The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Union Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking to extend voting rights to undertrial and pre-trial prisoners across the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran issued notice on the PIL filed by Sunita Sharma. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for the petitioner.

Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 imposes a blanket ban on voting by individuals confined in prisons, regardless of whether they have been convicted or are merely awaiting trial.

Section 62(5) reads as : No person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or ot

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