Hoshiarpur, Punjab (September 27, 2013): Sikh Youth of Punjab (SYP) says that the Supreme Court judgment providing the voters a right to reject candidates contesting elections is a positive development as it might help in cleansing the corrupt political system to some extent.
“We welcome SC verdict that there should be a button at the bottom of EVM – None of the Above, says Ranbir Singh, head of the youth wing of the Dal Khalsa.
He said with this order of the apex court, the voters could secretly reject all candidates, in case they feel none deserve their vote. He said this would broaden the choice of the electorate and helps in rejecting tainted and corrupt politicians.
He claimed that around 30 percent voter doesn’t come out of their houses to vote as they have perceived that all politicians are thugs (thieves). “At least, now they will have a chance to convey their resentment by rejecting those candidates and parties, which takes voters for granted”. “Now, political parties will hesitate to put up tainted image candidates for fear of rejection. Those candidates who get the maximum number of ‘None-To-Vote’ should be barred to contest any election for life-time”, said he.
Notably, the bench of Chief Justice P.Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that negative voting would gradually lead to systemic changes as political parties will have to respect the will of the people in selecting their candidates.
Ranbir Singh said the SC verdict will now help maintaining secrecy with the NOTA option in the EVMs and ballot papers, unlike earlier when the people used to go and fill the forms under 49(o) to the returning officer.
Under the election rules, invoking provision 49-O, a person can convey to the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote for anyone.