New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to decide within a week whether it would amend the electoral law or rules for allowing Non-Resident Indians, NRIs, to vote by postal or e-ballots in the polls in India. 

The court yesterday took note of the fact that the Centre and the Election Commission of India were agreeable to the report of a panel that NRIs may be allowed to vote. The report has been prepared by a 12-member committee comprising officials from the EC and Law and External Affairs Ministries. 

The poll panel had said the move to allow NRIs to use proxy voting on the lines of defence personnel and e-ballot facility would require changes in the Representation of People Act. 

The bench has now posted the matter for further hearing next Friday. The apex court has taken cognizance of a batch of petitions filed by a London-based Pravasi Bharat organisation and other NRIs on the issue.