Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, has made a passionate appeal to the citizens of India to ensure they vote in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking through a video message as part of the Election Commission’s ‘My Vote My Voice’ campaign, Justice Chandrachud emphasized voting as a crucial duty in a constitutional democracy.
Describing voting as one of the “foremost duties” bestowed upon citizens by the Constitution, he urged every eligible voter to take part in shaping the future of the nation. “We are citizens of the world’s largest democracy. The Constitution not only grants us a multitude of rights but also entrusts us with the duty to vote,” he stated in his message.
Highlighting the significance of each vote, Justice Chandrachud said, “I will request every one of you please do not miss this opportunity to vote responsibly as citizens of our great motherland. Five minutes, every five years for our nation. It’s doable, isn’t it? Let’s vote with pride. My vote, my voice.”
The Chief Justice recalled his own first experience as a voter, noting the profound sense of patriotism and connection to the country that comes from casting a vote. “The ink on the finger when I vote allows tremendous feelings of patriotism and association with the nation,” he reflected.
Justice Chandrachud also pointed out the equal value given to every citizen’s vote, reinforcing the principle of ‘one citizen, one vote, and one value’. He shared his consistent commitment to this civic duty, even during his busy days as a lawyer, highlighting the importance of participation irrespective of personal and professional burdens.
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The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 19 to June 1, 2024, across seven phases, with the results to be announced on June 4, 2024. Justice Chandrachud’s message aims to galvanize voter turnout and reinforce the democratic ethos of India as a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
