The clearance to the proposal by the GoS has paved the way for proposal to go to the Union Cabinet, for which a Cabinet note will now be prepared.

The GoS, comprising the Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Personnel) and Secretary (Legislative Affairs), was set up on August 27 at the initiative of Defence Minister George Fernandes following a meeting on the issue at the South Block here.

Fernandes has expressed hope that the facility of proxy voting be made available to armed forces personnel for the coming Assembly elections in four states later this year. Soon after assuming charge the defence minister had written to the Prime Minister that armed forces personnel be permitted to vote by proxy through making suitable amendments to the existing electoral law. He had noted in the letter that such ameasure would fulfill the longstanding aspirations of the defence services personnel.

Fernandes had also brought to the notice of the prime minister that the three service chiefs had told him that the armed forces personnel be allowed to vote through proxy at their native places by authorising any adult member of their respective families to vote on their behalf.