In a significant move, the Supreme Court on Monday called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to justify its decision to increase the voter cap at polling booths to 1,500. The request came in response to a petition challenging the adjustment, suggesting it may complicate voting logistics and dilute electoral integrity.
During the proceedings, the bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, opted not to issue a formal notice but requested a detailed affidavit from the ECI. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing the ECI, defended the increase, noting it has been in place since 2019 without prior complaints. He urged the court to avoid formal notices, hinting at the potential for broader controversies, particularly surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Singh assured the court that the decision was taken after consultations with all major political parties. The court directed that the ECI’s explanation be submitted within three weeks, with the matter set to be revisited in late January 2025.
The petition, filed by Indu Prakash Singh through advocate Talha Abdul Rahman and drafted by advocates Rafid Akhter and Sudhanshu Tewari, argues for a return to the previous standard of 1,200 voters per booth. This standard was maintained from 1957 until 2016. The petitioners are pushing for an increase in the number of polling stations to maintain manageable voter-to-booth ratios, particularly in urban and rural areas, to ensure smoother and more accessible voting processes.
