Jaipur: Supreme Court Monday set aside Rajasthan State Election Commission’s (SEC) rejection of permission for ‘Matdata Jagrukta Yatra’. It directed the commission to reconsider the organisers’ request to conduct the voter awareness campaign during the third phase of Panchayati Raj elections and pass an order within two days.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order while hearing an application in a writ petition filed by social activists Aruna Roy and others. It observed that the petitioners’ Oct 6 application seeking permission for the campaign required reconsideration.“Consequently, the communication dated Oct 9 is set aside, and the State Election Commission, Rajasthan, is directed to reconsider the petitioners’ request for permitting them to conduct the voter awareness campaign during phase 3 of the Panchayati Raj Election,” the order stated.The court directed the commission to pass an appropriate order within two days. It also allowed an application for intervention and impleadment, adding the SEC as respondent No. 5 in the case.The petitioners had moved the court after the commission rejected their request. Rajasthan Election Watch, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and allied organisations have been conducting the yatra during Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body elections for the past 20 years, according to the organisers.They had sought permission to take out the campaign across 11 districts — Ajmer, Beawar, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Rajsamand, Salumber, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur. An earlier application, submitted on Sept 7, was rejected on Sept 10.Welcoming the order, Aruna Roy described it as a victory for the Constitution, democracy and citizens’ rights, saying voter awareness was essential for informed electoral participation.Rajasthan Election Watch said it would approach authorities for administrative support to conduct the campaign.The order does not grant permission for the yatra but requires the SEC to reconsider the request and take a fresh decision within the stipulated time.
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