New Delhi, July 15 (IANS): The law ministry is examining a bill proposing to accord voting rights to non-resident Indians (NRI), Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told parliament Wednesday.
The bill proposing voting rights to Indian citizens living abroad on account of employment, education or other purposes was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in February 2006, the minister told the Lok Sabha.
The bill was referred to the parliamentary standing committee, which presented its report on it to the Rajya Sabha and laid it on the table of the Lok Sabha Aug 4, 2006.
"The report is under examination of the ministry of law and justice, legislative department," the minister said.
The proposal permits Indian citizens residing abroad to get their names registered in the electoral roll of the concerned constituency of their place of ordinary residence in India and cast their vote in the elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislatures if they are present in their constituencies at the time of the elections, the minister said in a written reply.