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ANKITA ANIL PATILAIR 140· 2025

Question Q.6GS2GS2

Right to vote is fundamental to democracy, and depriving undertrial prisoners of this right while allowing convicted elections reflect a flawed legal framework. Comment.

Open scan (p.11)

Introduction

The right to vote is enshrined under the universal adult suffrage grant to citizens above and of the age of 18 years.

22 words

Main Body

The right to vote is enshrined under the universal adult suffrage grant to citizens above and of the age of 18 years.

Actualisation of a democratic polityEnsures decline of popular sovereigntyEnsures participative democracy

Deprivation of right to vote to prisoners:

(I) Issues

1Denial of right to vote and encroachment on right to equality (Article 14)
2Impedes participation in the electoral process and right to elect ones political representative.
3Right to contest elections of undertrial manifests inconsistency. Leading in existing anomalies criminalisation of politics.
4Reflects Degrades the legal quality of electoral candidates in election. Leading to restrictions on citizens to exercise their vote.
5Reduces the voted turnout to the process.

(II) Way forward

1Implementation of suggestions under the Lilly Thomas Case regarding contesting elections lay under fields.
2Voter Commission suggestions for curbing criminalisation of politics.
3Postal ballot extended to prisoners undertrialed during elections.
154 words5 paragraphs

Conclusion

Postal ballot extended to prisoners undertrialed during elections as a way forward to address the inconsistency in depriving voting rights.

20 words

Diagram

A diagram showing the relationship between right to vote being fundamental to democracy, with branches for actualisation of democratic polity, ensuring decline of popular sovereignty, and ensuring participative democracy

  • Clear identification of constitutional violation (Article 14)
  • Well-structured issues section
  • References judicial precedent (Lilly Thomas Case)

Topper

ANKITA ANIL PATIL

AIR 1402025

Subject & Paper

GS2GS2

Topic

Salient Features of the Representation of People's Act

Elections

Voting Rights and Electoral Participation

Writing Stats

196

Total words

5

Paragraphs

formal and analytical

Tone