The Telangana High Court has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to promptly address a request advocating for pregnant women to be granted the option of casting their votes via postal ballot.

A Division Bench, consisting of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao, disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that sought a direction for this purpose.

The Court heard a PIL filed by Kesana Goud, who emphasized that pregnant women are unable to cast their votes.

Therefore, it was argued that just as the government permits senior citizens above the age of 85 years to cast their votes through postal ballot, a similar provision should be made by the government or the ECI to enable pregnant women to exercise their right to vote through postal ballot.

The petitioner relied on Section 60 of the Representation of People Act of 1951, which empowers the ECI to notify any class of persons as eligible to vote via postal ballot.

The contention was that the ECI should issue a notification enabling pregnant women to use postal ballots. However, in response, the ECI counsel pointed out that the Lok Sabha elections had already commenced. Therefore, it was suggested that the issue raised by the petitioner could be considered by the ECI for future elections.

The Court then disposed of the plea, directing the ECI to examine the petitioner's representation for future elections. Kesana Goud, the petitioner, appeared in person as a party to the case.