Assns miffed as railway employees miss date with vote

Without waiting for any representation or litigation, Election Commission of India should ensure 100 per cent voting of all states and central government employees as first step

— V Balachandran, Central organising secretary, All India Loco Running Staff Association

The Election Commission of India in the recent Lok Sabha elections declined to allow the employees of the Railways to cast their vote by postal ballot as the Madras High Court pointed out that the deadline, for government employees engaged in essential services to apply for postal ballots, has passed.

The railway associations in the Southern Railway tells that the right to vote is one of the basic rights of any citizen and denial of the rights has happened as they could not cast their votes.

“The work of employees like loco pilots, Assistant loco pilots, Guards, AC mechanics is

such that once they go for work they could return after 72 hours or a minimum of 48 hours. Many such employees were unable to vote, as postal vote facility was not made available to the employees of Southern Railway in Tamil Nadu region. A petition was filed in the High Court and

Railway did not address the issue properly,” said V Gopal Krishnan, working general secretary, Southern Railway Employees

Sangh.

This is not the first time the issue is being debated where the section of railway employees could not vote in the election. The associations request

the EC to provide the postal ballot facility at least for the next elections.

“Due to employment, many other employees are also working away from their constituencies. And during the election time railways operate special trains so they are supposed to work. It is difficult for them to travel for one day by paying the travel expenses. It’s a matter to be taken into consideration when Government of India compels or insist on hundred per cent voting. It should be ensured on its part that their state and central government employees most particularly, for the staff those nature is on line duties where 24×7 services are maintained. Without waiting for any representation or litigation, Election Commission of India should ensure 100 per cent voting of all states and central government employees as first step,” said V Balachandran, Central organising secretary, All India Loco Running Staff Association.

When contacted, a senior official attached to the Southern Railway mentioned that except running staff all other had holiday on the election day, so that they could cast their vote. And, most of the employees in the railways casted their vote, he added.