NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud of India has urged citizens not to overlook the opportunity to vote in the general elections, emphasizing it as the “foremost duty” in a constitutional democracy.
In a video message for the Election Commission’s ‘My Vote My Voice’ mission for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Justice Chandrachud stated, “We are citizens of the world’s largest democracy, our country.”
“The Constitution grants us a multitude of rights as citizens, but it also expects each of us to fulfill the duties cast upon us. And one of the foremost duties of citizenship is to cast a vote in a constitutional democracy,” he emphasized.
“I implore each one of you, please do not miss this opportunity to vote responsibly as citizens of our great motherland. Five minutes, every five years for our nation.
It’s achievable, isn’t it? Let’s vote with pride. My vote, my voice,” the CJI urged.
Justice Chandrachud highlighted that citizens play a participatory role in electing the government, hence it is often said that “this government is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
He reminisced about his excitement as a first-time voter, queuing up at the polling booth to exercise his franchise.
“The ink on the finger when I vote evokes tremendous feelings of patriotism and association with the nation…,” he expressed.
“So our Constitution and our law provide for one citizen, one vote, and one value. I believe that’s the great tenacity and the power of our nation as a constitutional democracy,” he remarked.
The CJI noted that he never missed the duty to cast his vote even when he was a lawyer and had to manage busy schedules.
The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place from April 19 to June 1, 2024, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha.
The elections will be conducted in seven phases, with the results set to be announced on June 4, 2024.