SC refuses to make voting compulsory

Impressed by the moderately high percentage of voter turnout in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections,the Supreme Court on Friday refused to agree that voting should be made compulsory. “The percentage of votings over the years have gone high and in some states like Kerala,there have been 86 per cent of voting,” the Bench comprising CJI K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam observed.

“The literacy rate is going up and people are conscious of their rights,” it observed,ruling out the suggestions that water and electricity supply be snapped to compel voters to exercise their right. “Can a voter be compelled physically to go to polling booths?” the Bench sought to know from counsel Prasanna Kutty appearing for one Dr Atul Sarode from Maharashtra.