Will amend law to allow NRI voting: Govt

New Delhi, July 21

The government today told the Supreme Court that it has decided to amend the Representation of People’s Act to allow Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote in Indian polls from abroad.

Attorney General KK Venugopal told a Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar that a decision had been taken to amend the RP Act and not just amend the rules framed under it.

The Bench granted two weeks to the Attorney General to seek instructions on how the government wanted to implement the decision that would benefit around two million NRIs who would be able to vote in Indian elections without being physically present in the country.

The Centre and the Election Commission had already agreed to the idea in principle and the only issue was the manner in which it has to be implemented, the SCwas informed last week. — TNS