Supreme Court orders Rajasthan election body to revisit voter‑awareness tour denial

Supreme Court on Monday directed the Rajasthan State Election Commission to revisit its refusal to allow a voter‑awareness tour during the third phase of the Panchayati Raj polls. The order came from a three‑judge panel that includes Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymala Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, and it asked the commission to issue a fresh decision within two days. Activists led by social reformer Aruna Roy had filed a petition on October 6 seeking permission for the campaign. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, said the programme, running since 2004, informs voters about their rights, the option of NOTA and warns against vote‑buying. He emphasized that the activities are non‑partisan and involve small groups holding interactive sessions in villages. The election commission argued that the proposed tour could be used by external actors and that it already runs its own awareness initiatives. Justice Bagchi dismissed that reasoning, noting that the commission’s own programmes do not bar other groups from similar work. Rajasthan Election Watch, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and partner groups said they have organized voter‑awareness yatras across 11 districts – Ajmer, Beawar, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Rajsamand, Salumbar, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur – for the past two decades. Their earlier requests in September and October were rejected by the commission. Aruna Roy welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a triumph for constitutional values and a safeguard for democratic participation. ## Context Voter‑awareness tours are a common feature of Indian elections, aimed at reducing corruption and encouraging informed voting. Courts often intervene when state bodies deny such civil society initiatives.