The Manipur High Court recently closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed apprehending that underaged voters would be casting their votes in Heirok Assembly Constituency (33) during the Manipur Legislative Assembly Elections, 2022.
The PIL has been filed by Elangbam Jiten Singh and others.
By order dated 03.03.2022, the Court noted that there was imminent risk of such a possibility as the revision of electoral rolls had taken place at the eleventh hour without proper verification.
The Court also noted that Booth Level Officers at Heirok had addressed letters in that regard, giving the details of 16 alleged minors whose names had been included in the revised electoral list.
As the costly and time-consuming exercise of holding the Assembly Election on 05.03.2022 in this constituency stood at risk, the Court directed the Election authorities, by way of an interim order, to undertake verification of the dates of birth of all young voters in Heirok Assembly Constituency (33) who appeared to be in the vicinity of the age of majority, viz., 18 years, by insisting upon production of two documents in proof of their dates of birth.
The Election authorities were directed to cause wide publicity of the order so that all such young voters would come prepared with necessary documentation.
On May 30 , the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Lanusungkum Jamir observed that the election process had been completed .
The District Election Officer, Thoubal, filed an affidavit dated 23.05.2022 stating that out of 785 voters who were shown as 18 years of age or so, 684 voters exercised their franchise on the day of the election and upon due verification, they were allowed to do so. He further stated that no underaged voter exercised franchise in any of the polling booths in this constituency.
The Court is of the view that in the light of the aforestated affidavit, the grievance of the petitioners in the case stands settled.