Nepal SC directs EC to make separate ballot papers for upcoming polls

With one month remaining for Nepal to go for provincial and parliamentary polls, the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to make two separate ballot papers for the concerned elections.

In its latest ruling, Nepal's Supreme Court also directed the Election Commission to present the progress achieved in printing of the ballot papers for the upcoming polls.

The Election commission on Wednesday, however, decided to make two ballot papers for the upcoming polls, where the voters had to stamp four votes to choose two candidates, each from direct voting and Proportionate Representation in Parliament and Province Council.

With the ruling, the Election Commission would require to re-design and publish the ballot papers; meanwhile, the printing of the ballot papers for the Proportionate Representation is already complete.

A writ, filed by Rastriya Janata Party- Nepal's leader Sarbendra Nath Sukla, demanded for Interim Order from the court to print two separate papers, which was negated by the latter.

The election commission, on the other hand, concluded that printing of separate ballot papers cannot be made in one month.

With the Nepal Supreme Court's latest ruling, the chance of postponement of the election, scheduled for November 26, is of high probability.

The Government of Nepal, few months ago, decided to go for the polls of Parliament and the Provincial Council simultaneously, in two phases in the months of November and December.