Open Ballot System for Rajya Sabha Polls is not per se Discriminatory: SC

The Supreme Court (“SC”) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the provisions of the Conduct of Electoral Rules, 1961, that mandates MLAs and MPs to show the ballot paper to a polling agent of a political party in the polls for Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils to make their vote valid, as being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The SC dismissing the plea stated that the provisions are not per se discriminatory and an open ballot is needed to prevent cross voting and maintain party discipline.