Court issues legal notice seeking voting rights for people with special needs

A legal notice has been served on the government urging immediate measures to safeguard the voting rights of people with special needs, including visually impaired and physically disabled voters, ahead of the upcoming national elections.

The notice was sent on Tuesday (Novemver 25) to the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commission Secretary, and the secretaries of the Local Government Division, Ministry of Public Administration, and Ministry of Social Welfare.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab issued the notice via email on behalf of human rights organisation Law & Life Foundation Trust, along with Supreme Court lawyers Naeem Sardar and Shah Sarwar Salf Shaon.

The notice emphasised that, under existing laws, the state has a constitutional responsibility to ensure the participation of people with disabilities in elections. However, due to administrative inaction, an estimated three million voters with disabilities are being deprived of meaningful participation.

It cited media reports showing that only 10% of disabled voters cast ballots in the 2018 national elections, leaving 90% unable to vote.

The notice demanded urgent steps, including:

* Exempting disabled candidates from submitting security deposits with nomination papers in national and local elections.
* Introducing reserved seats for people with disabilities at both national and local levels.
* Implementing Braille voting facilities for visually impaired voters.

It highlighted that despite constitutional guarantees under Article 118 and provisions in the Representation of the People Order 1973, participation of disabled voters remains uncertain due to administrative lapses.

The notice warned that if no action is taken within five days, the Law & Life Foundation Trust will file a writ petition with the High Court in the public interest.