Shimla
Nearly 3000 IGMC staff including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff will not be able to excercise their fundamental Right on June 1,2024.
According to the sources, Medical Superintendent office IGMC has delay in issuing the desired Form 12 D to the staff which has deprived their rights.
The Form 12 D is to be filled by May 12 and should be given to their respective Assistant Returning Officers AROs.The Nodal officers will further give it to the concerned Returning officers (ROs) or the Assistant Returning officers (AROs) under proper receipt with dates when these forms are handed over. The Meeting regarding the same was held in the office of Deputy commissioner Shimla on 15.04.2024 with the direction to strictly adhere the direction recieved from the Chief Election commission of India for enhancing the participation in upcoming elections as well as to encourage the use of Fundamental Right to Vote.
However, in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha and bye-elections, the Election Commission of India has categorized individuals deployed in essential services, such as doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff, as eligible to vote through postal ballots. These absentee voters must be certified by their Nodal officers as being “on duty” on the day of the poll. Ballot as absentee voters on essential services provided that they are certified by the Nodal officers ‘as on duty’ on the day of Poll.
This delay is a significant setback for the democratic process, as it hinders the participation of essential service workers who play a critical role in society. The Election Commission’s initiative is to facilitate their voting rights, but due to the lack of timely action from the IGMC Shimla’s, their rights will be deprived.
