SC quashes PIL seeking fresh polls if NOTA ‘wins’

The court refused to entertain a PIL filed by one Jaggan Nath,seeking its direction to the Commission not to declare the results when the majority of electorate goes for th NOTA option in the electronic voting machine (EVM).

The court had in its earlier judgment directed the government and Election Commission to include NOTA option so that voters could exercise their right of freedom of expression regarding the candidates being put up by political parties.

It had said this would compel political parties to field “sound” candidates who are known for their integrity.

NOTA has been introduced by the Commission for the current Assembly elections.

The apex court had said that there was a “dire need” of negative voting which will bring “systemic change” in the election process as “the political parties will be forced to accept the will of the people” and field clean candidates when a large number of people express their disapproval with the candidates being put up by them.

The verdict,which was likely to encourage people to go to polling booths to express disapproval against contestants,had said,”By providing NOTA button in the EVMs,it will accelerate the effective political participation in the present state of democratic system and the voters in fact will be empowered.”

(With PTI inputs)