COVID has unleashed greater and most effective means of utilising communication technologies, practically removing all human interaction. The age-old adage “Necessity is the mother of invention" couldn't have been better at display. Challenging problems require extraordinary solutions. Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest icons of the struggle for establishment of a democratic form of governance, once famously remarked: “An educated, enlightened and informed population is one of the surest ways of promoting the health of a democracy."
The fundamental basis of an effective democracy is the enlightenment, effective interaction and active participation of the voter populace in order that the right choice for the political leader or outfit is made. Hence, any development that disseminates information to the voter directly of the concerned issues, during elections is a welcome step for democracy.
In this context, when a petitioner approached the Uttarakhand High Court for postponement of elections, the Court's order on January 5, 2022, is laudable. It directed the Election Commission of India to consider a "virtual mode” of campaigning along with the online method of voting.
Given past experience, large public meetings attract hundreds of thousands of people. This is detrimental to health standards and promotes the spread of the pandemic. Two things come to the fore and deserve focus-virtual campaigning (read webcasting) and online voting.
The Dinesh Goswami (former law minister) Committee on Electoral Reforms of 1990 was the first to discuss state funding of elections, which led to the discussion of virtual campaigning through TV and radio as there were no internet technologies then. Today, when we speak of virtual campaigning, it would include the electronic media, internet and social media, which are available in the form of online and mobile technologies.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
PIL, Difficult To Swallow?
In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court lamented the increasing number of frivolous public interest litigations being filed in courts and echoed the sentiments of the Supreme Court that such litigations are the bane of the judicial system. Is there any way to restrict their misuse?
Till Infertility Do Us Part...
The Calcutta High Court slammed a husband for initiating divorce proceedings due to his wife's infertility and asked him to be a pillar of support for her. Courts have often taken an empathetic view in such matters
IS THAT LEGAL?
Ignorance of law is no excuse. Here are answers to frequently asked queries regarding matters that affect us on a day-to-day basis
The Big Lie
In America, The Big Lie is an idiom used by Donald Trump's opponents and the media to describe his constant gripe about election fraud. Now, it seems more suited to another Republican, Congressman George Santos (right), who has been facing growing calls to resign after he admitted fabricating parts of his resume and biography since his election in New York last year.
Flying into the Sunset
Over 50 years since the first and original jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, took to the skies and revolutionized air travel, the last of the legendary aircraft (right) was delivered to a freight charter company, bringing down the curtain on one of aviation's most successful products.
Star Crossed
Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is a Hollywood legend, having starred in a range of movies, award winning TV sitcoms, and theatre. He was most recently seen in Mission Impossible Fallout, which is an apt description of his current situation.
Walkouts in the UK
An estimated half a million workers have gone on strike, shutting down thousands of schools, public transport and border disruption. It is the biggest day of industrial action for more than a decade.
Myanmar's Misery
Two years after the military coup ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the brutal crackdown by the junta on so-called \"insurgents\" and civilian protesters has reached a new level with the use of air strikes, a new and deadly tactic in the ongoing civil war.
AMERICA'S ANGST
From messy, divisive politics to a series of mass shootings, and now black officers brutally beating another black man to death as seen in bodycam videos, America's domestic convulsions are cause for serious introspection
JUSTICE LEAGUE
There are few judicial appointment procedures in the world that are completely bereft of the overarching presence of either the executive or the legislature, or both. In the end, the judge is left with all the powers vested in him/her by the constitution to uphold the rule of law, within an atmosphere of external influences
