Demonetisation: EC asks FinMin to do away with indelible ink rule

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the Union Finance Ministry to do away with the policy of marking people who were depositing and exchanging money at banks with indelible ink in light of the problems it could create for the upcoming state Assembly polls, news agency ANI reported. 

Earlier, on Tuesday, in a letter to the Finance Ministry, the EC had said five states are going for bypoll on November 19 and the government should ensure that use of indelible ink on people depositing money in banks does not create problems for the voters in these states.

Earlier in the day, the government had announced that it would apply indelible ink on people depositing and exchanging money at bank branches following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.

According to electoral law, indelible ink is applied on the left index finger of the voter to prevent voter fraud.

If the voter does not have an index finger it is applied on the other finger.

In case the voter does not have a left arm the same principle is applied on the right hand. If a voter does not have both the arms, then the indelible ink is applied on the toes.