EC vows to to make 2014 Lok Sabha polls disabled-friendly

  Chennai:
The Election Commission has vowed to make the 2014 elections disabled
friendly by directing electoral officers of states and union
territories to provide adequate facilities including ramps in all
polling stations besides ensuring differently-abled electors are given
priority for entering polling stations without having to wait in the
queue.
Submitting a copy of notification which was issued to chief electoral
officers of all states and union territories before the first bench
comprising acting chief justice Satish K Agnihotri and M M Sundresh,
the senior counsel of Election Commission G Rajagopalan said that EC
will direct all authorities to follow the instructions given in this
regard strictly.
This comes in the wake of a petition filed before the High court
stating that Election Commission has failed to ensure that elections
are disabled friendly despite Supreme Court direction on October 5,
2007 to EC to provide ramps and separate queues for physically
handicapped. The petitioner has stated that Election Commission is
just passing the instructions without any follow-up action to ensure
the compliance of instructions.
Rajagopalan submitted before the first bench that, “If there is any
case pointing out the defect or there is any dereliction in compliance
with the instructions the same may be pointed out to the authorities
and the concerned authorities will take care to ensure strict
compliance of instructions already given.”
The notification which was submitted before the High Court instructs
the chief electoral officers of all states and Union territories to
ensure facilities are provided for physically disabled to take their
wheel chairs inside the polling stations.
“In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided,
temporary ramps should be provided for the purpose,” the notification
stated.
It also said that polling personnel should be briefed about the
provisions of Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which
provides for permitting a companion to accompany a blind or infirm
elector to assist him or her to cast the vote.
The chief electoral officers have been instructed by EC that polling
personne should be sensitised about the special needs of
differently-abled electors for courteous behaviour towards them and
for providing necessary support to them at the polling station.
EC directive to chief electoral officers:
       Polling station must ensure differently abled electors are given
priority for entering polling station without having to wait in queues
       Facilities should be provided to physically challenged to take their
wheel chairs inside polling station
       Polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided,
temporary ramps should be provided
       Brief polling personnel about provisions of Rule 49 N of the Conduct
of Election Rules 1961, which provides for permitting a companion to
accompany a blind or infirm voter
       Sensitise polling personnel about the special needs of
differently-abled voters, for courteous behaviour towards physically
disabled