SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday said that all eligible voters whether tribal or non-tribal, Christian or non-Christian, irrespective of their caste, creed, culture and religion should be allowed to cast their vote for the election of the headmen.
The Court said that this is mandatory since every citizen of the country has got statutory Right to Vote as well as not to Vote under Section 79(d) of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 and Rules 41(2) and (3) and 49 O of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961.
Moreover, universal franchise by way of participation of people across all sections of society in the election of headman, a useful tool of governance at the grass root level of democracy, can also make the institution more respectable and acceptable, and it can legitimately command the cooperation of all the residents of the village and tribe in the performance of duties by the incumbent of the office, the High Court said, while delivering the order on the pending case related to headmen.
