Provide proper facilities for the disabled and aged voters at Tamil Nadu, Puducherry polling stations: HC

Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan insist on implementing Election Commission of India’s 2023 instructions in letter and spirit

- AJIKUMAR CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to ensure strict implementation of instructions issued by the commission on August 3, 2023, to encourage persons with disabilities and the senior citizens to vote in large numbers.

The First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan suo motu impleaded the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as respondents to a public interest litigation petition, and called for compliance report from both the officers by the last week of January 2026.

The judges pointed out that the ECI had issued elaborate instructions to the Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories in the country in 2023 with respect to the facilities to be provided to persons with disabilities and the senior citizens for their enrolment and ease of voting at the polling booths.