IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.S.R.BANNURMATH & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER TUESDAY, THE 20TH OCTOBER 2009 / 28TH ASWINA 1931 W.P.(C).No. 14304 of 2009 (S) PETITIONER: SIHAS BABU MELAYIL, NEW DALIA, KADALOOR.P.O., MOODADI, KOYILANDY VIA KOZHIKODE DIST. WORKING AS MANAGER, STEEL DIVISION DANUBE GROUP, P.O.BOX 1993, MANAMA, BAHRAIN. BY ADV. SRI.KALEESWARAM RAJ RESPONDENTS: 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP.BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MINISTRY OF LAW, NEW DELHI. 2. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, REP. BY THE SECRETARY ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA NIRVACHAL SADAN, ASOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI. 3. STATE OF KERALA REP. BY PRINCIPLAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT ELECTION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOZHIKODE. Addl.R6. NOUSHAD ALI MUTTENGADAN AGED 40, S/O KUNHIKOYA MUTTANGADAN HOUSE PUTHOOR P.O. KOTTAKKAL, MALAPPURAM PIN - 676503 W.P.(C).No. 14304 of 2009 (S) :: 2 :: Addl. R7. ABDUL RASHEED KIZHAKKUTTU VALAPPIL AGED 44, S/O K.V.IBRAHIM P.O. MOOKKUTHALA MALAPPURAM DISTRICT PIN - 679 574 (Additional respondents 6 and 7 are impleaded as per order dated 3-8-09 in I.A.9373/09 in W.P.(C)14304/09) ADV. SRI.MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN, SC,ELE.COMMN. FOR R2 & 4 SRI.BABU KARUKAPADATH FOR R1 SRI.K.S.MADHUSOODANAN FOR R6 & 7 SRI.T.V.JAYAKUMAR NAMBOODIRI FOR R6 & 7 SRI.M.M.VINOD KUMAR FOR R6 & 7 SMT.K.M.RAMYA FOR R6 & 7 GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.MEERA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 20/10/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C).No. 14304 of 2009 (S) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: Ext.P1: True copy of the electoral identity card issued to the petitioner. Ext.P2: True copy of the relevant pages of the electoral roll with respect to Moodadi Ward in Koyilandy Taluk. Ext.P3: True copy of the Article written by Sri.Abhinav Chandrachud in the Hindu dated 15-4-2009. Ext.P4: True copy of the representation dated 17-4-2009 filed by the petitioner before the 1st respondent. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: Annexure A : The photocopy of the letter No.3/ER/2006/JS-II/1738 dated 10-07-2006 addressed by the Election Commission of India to the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice. Annexure B: The photocopy of the letter No.3/ER/2006/JS-II/6447 dated 20-10-2006 addressed by the Election Commission of India to the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice. Annexure C: The photocopy of the letter No.23/PSC/2007-PLN-II dated 16-8-2007 issued by the Commission to Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice. // True copy // Sd/- S.R.BANNURMATH, C.J. & A.K.BASHEER, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C)No.14304 of 2009-S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 20th day of October 2009 JUDGMENT S.R.BANNURMATH, C.J. This Public Interest Litigation is filed seeking voting rights for overseas citizens. The main prayer in the writ petition is to issue a direction to the respondents to implement the policy decision taken by the Government to grant voting rights to the overseas citizens and permit them to exercise their voting rights by postal ballot. Various contentions are raised in the writ petition. We do not propose to deal with those contentions at present, since the first respondent has filed a detailed statement in which it is submitted that after receiving the approval of Cabinet on 15th February 2006 on the proposal of conferring voting rights to Indian citizens absenting from the place of their ordinary residence in India owing to employment, education or otherwise outside India, a bill, namely, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2006 was introduced in the W.P.(C)No.14304 OF 2009 :: 2 :: Rajya Sabha on 27th February 2006. However, the Bill was referred to the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personal, Public Grievances and Law and Justice, for examination and Report. The committee has presented its 16th Report which is yet to be finalized which would be subject to the approval of the Parliament. 2. In the facts and circumstances of the case, we direct the first respondent to take steps for finalization of the Bill, as expeditiously as possible, hopefully during the winter session and in consultation with the Election Commission of India. Writ petition is disposed of. (S.R.BANNURMATH) CHIEF JUSTICE (A.K.BASHEER) JUDGE jes/vku.