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The Supreme Court declined a plea on Wednesday seeking mandatory breathalyser testing of voters queued at polling booths during elections. The petition, raised by the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Janavahini Party, aimed to prevent voters under the influence of alcohol from casting their votes, citing concerns over the enforcement of the model code of conduct.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s decision to dismiss the petition, labeling it as “more of a publicity interest litigation.” The court emphasized that on polling days, stringent measures are in place, including dry-day regulations and extensive police deployment, making the plea unnecessary.
The High Court, in its ruling on February 28, highlighted the petitioner’s failure to cite specific legal provisions obligating the Election Commission of India to mandate breathalyser tests for voters. The plea was based on the party’s representation to the Election Commission, urging the implementation of breathalyser testing to ensure voters’ sobriety.
Despite the dismissal of the plea, the political party aimed to challenge the Election Commission’s alleged inaction regarding their representation. They sought directives for the Commission to facilitate breathalyser testing at polling booth entry points, allowing only sober voters to exercise their voting rights.
In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, the focus remains on upholding the integrity and fairness of elections, with measures already in place to ensure a conducive voting environment free from external influences.
