Make voting Fundamental Duty, Law Minister says in personal opinion

NEW DELHI: Voting by every Indian citizen should be included in the Constitution as a Fundamental Duty, according to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in remarks he said were personal in nature.

He also said every Indian should pay tax if they come under the tax limit.

Delivering a talk to members of Parliament on Fundamental Rights and Duties at an event organised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat here today on Constitution of India, he said he would like to share some issues which are his personal views.

"I am not saying this as the Law Minister of the country. Some points should be added to Article 51 (a) of the Constitution (dealing with Fundamental Duties)...that every Indian must vote; every Indian must pay tax if they come under the tax limit," he said.

His remarks come against the backdrop of demands to make voting compulsory. There has been a private member's bill in the Lok Sabha in this regard.

But the government, the Election Commission and the Law Commission have opined against making voting compulsory saying it is not feasible.

But putting voting as part of Fundamental Duty is different as any violation may not entail punishment.