Revisiting the Universal Adult Suffrage: The Voting Rights of Prisoners in India
Author : Linesh VV
Abstract :
India being the world’s largest democracy has been denying the most fundamental right of suffrage to its four lakh eligible voters. Unlike many of its counter parts, India has adopted ‘universal adult suffrage’, right from the inception of its democracy and thereby ensuring political justice to its people. Beyond the question that whether prisoners’ suffrage is right or wrong, the denial of voting right to prisoners is seriously challenging India’s claim of universal adult franchise. This Article is an attempt to problematize India’s claim of ‘universal adult franchise while taking up the case of prisoners. Finally, it argues that the denial of the voting right to prisoners is a violation of some of the fundamental rights which are enshrined in Indian constitution.
Keywords :
Prisoner’s right, Indian constitution, universal adult suffrage, justice, imprisonment
