The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Allahabad High Court order, which ruled that a person having his name in the voters list can cast his vote even without having a photo identity card. ``The effect of this will be that the order dated January 23 and February seven issued by the Election Commission would in operation and alone be given effect to``, a three-judge bench comprising Justice B N Kirpal, Justice Shivraj Patil and Justice B P Singh said after hearing an appeal filed by the Election Commission.
The apex court decision came on an appeal filed by the Election Commission challenging the Monday`s Allahabad High Court order stating that it had already suggested 18 alternate modes of identity to enable a voter to exercise his franchise and the High Court order was ``wrong``. The Supreme Court said that its order would be intimated to the Chief Electoral Officer in Uttar Pradesh who would in turn inform the presiding officers.
The Apex Court also issued notices to the petitioners who have filed a PIL in the Allahabad High Court challenging the Election Commission`s order making the photo identity cards mandatory for casting votes.
Bureau Report