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In a historic verdict that will empower the Indian voter, the Supreme Court yesterday said for a vibrant democracy electors must have the right to reject all the candidates in the fray with the option of “none of the above (NOTA)” in voting machines and on ballot papers.
The Election Commission said it is possible to provide the ‘right to reject’ option in the forthcoming assembly polls subject to feasibility. If the poll panel is able to include the option in the Electronic Voting Machines, then it could see voters in five state assemblies later this year using the option as well as during next year’s general elections.
With this, India joined the distinguished club of 13 nations that have the provision, including France, Belgium, Brazil, Greece, Bangladesh, Finland, Sweden, the US, Colombia and Spain.
Activists, the public and politicians have hailed the apex court decision.
A bench of chief justice P Sathasivam, justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and justice Ranjan Gogoi said, “... in a vibrant democracy, the voter must be given an opportunity to choose none of the above (NOTA) button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate. This situation palpably tells us the dire need of negative voting.
“We are of the considered view that in bringing out this right to cast negative vote at a time when electioneering is in full swing, it will foster the purity of the electoral process and also fulfill one of its objectives, namely, wide participation of people,” the court said in its judgment.
“Democracy is all about choice and this choice can be better expressed by giving the voters an “opportunity to verbalise themselves unreservedly and by imposing least restrictions on their ability to make such a choice”, the judgment said.
While the Congress was cautious about the verdict, the BJP welcomed it.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said all aspects of the verdict “needs to be studied carefully and consultations held”.