Don't use indelible ink on people exchanging money in banks: EC writes to Finance Ministry

The Election Commission of India on 18 November wrote to the Finance Ministry and raised objection to the use of indelible ink on people exchanging money in banks in election-bound regions.

On 15 November, the Election Commission had asked the government to keep in mind the election laws on use of indelible ink while applying the method to check suspicious depositors.

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

On 16 November, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das 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.

Sources said that rules related to indelible ink have been referred to the Finance Ministry to help it devise a strategy which keeps the interest of voters in mind.

As per the electoral law, indelible ink is applied on the left index finger of the voter to prevent impersonification.

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 arms, then indelible ink is applied on the toes.

--with PTI inputs