"Supreme Court rejects PIL against students voting from their place of study"

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition that challenged the rule allowing students studying outside their home constituency to transfer their voter registration to the place where they study. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar heard the case. The petitioner, advocate PK Mullick, argued that students from different states—like someone from Uttar Pradesh studying in Telangana—may not fully understand local issues, politics, or even the language, making their vote less meaningful. In response, CJI Khanna stated that students voting from their place of study ensures better voter participation. If they were not allowed to vote there, many would not be able to vote at all. He also mentioned that even judges do not get postal ballots, except in limited cases like for defense personnel and the elderly. Justice Sanjay Kumar pointed out that many people, including those who move for work, face similar issues. He questioned where the rule should draw the line, as many people live away from their home constituencies but cannot get postal ballots. The court also rejected the idea of allowing students to vote via the ‘Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot,’ which is currently available only to NRIs. The court dismissed the petition, referring to Clause 13.6.1.3 of the Manual of Electoral Rolls. This rule states that students can register as voters either in their home constituency or in the place where they are studying, as long as they are pursuing a course from a recognized university. Case Details: ARNAB KUMAR MULLICK vs. UNION OF INDIA W.P.(C) No. 000215 - / 2024 www.legalmeet.in