Haryana Panchayat polls: Undertrials cast vote at Bhiwani Jail

Bhiwani, Jan 18: In what could be a first of its kind in Haryana, 10 undertrial prisoners, accused of murdering a man, cast their votes on Jan 17 in the second phase of the Panchayat elections at a specially-created booth within Bhiwani Jail where they have been lodged.

The undertrials had filed a petition in a court seeking permission to exercise their voting rights. Justice Narendra Sharma, on the petition, said that since the murder case is still under trial, it is the duty of the district administration to make arrangements for the prisoners to cast their ballot.

The court ordered the district deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to make arrangements to allow the prisoners exercise their franchise.

Accordingly, a makeshift polling booth was set up within the prison compound, Superintendent of Bhiwani Jail, Satwinder Godara said.

The poll officials reached the prison this morning and left the premises at around 10 am after the untertrial prisoners had cast their ballot, he said.

More than 85 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the second phase of Panchayat elections in Haryana today which passed off peacefully.

PTI