Bombay High Court. File
In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court announced on November 18, 2024, that the Election Commission of India’s decision to prohibit mobile phone usage at polling booths during the upcoming state assembly elections is lawful.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) brought forth by lawyer Ujala Yadav challenging this ban in relation to the Maharashtra assembly elections set for November 20.
The PIL urged the court to order the Election Commission and the State Election Commission to permit voters to carry mobile phones for the purpose of displaying identity verification through the DigiLocker app, a digital service provided by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
The court emphasized that the Election Commission possesses the authority to implement measures to ensure the smooth execution of the electoral process.
“Conducting elections is inherently complex. The petitioner suggests using digital lockers to present documents, which is not a recognized right,” the bench stated, reiterating the lack of illegality in the Election Commission’s decision.
Furthermore, the court acknowledged concerns that voters may feel disheartened from voting due to the prohibition on mobile devices, especially in light of the absence of provided arrangements for phone storage at polling locations.
Published – November 18, 2024 05:01 pm IST
