NEW DELHI: Non Resident Indians may not have to fly to India to cast their vote during elections with the Supreme Court directing the Central government to enable e-voting facility for them with in eight weeks.
The Election Commission had earlier recommended e-ballot voting for Indian passport holders abroad.
The government had given voting rights to the NRIs in 2010, but as per the rule the voter has to be present in their constituency on the day of voting.
The Centre told the Supreme Court that the EC's recommendation to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and A K Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about "further steps taken to implement the suggestions."
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
"Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest," the bench said.
There are an estimated 11 million NRIs across the world.