ID :
56077
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 07:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/56077
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Supreme Court of India disfavours making voting compulsory
New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) The impressive voters turn out
in first phase of parliamentary polls propelled the Supreme
Court of India Friday to disfavour the idea of having a law to
make it compulsory for citizens to exercise their franchise.
The voters turnout of 86 and over 73 per cent in
Lakshwadeep islands in the Arabian Sea in the western part of
the country and southern state Kerala Thursday was fresh in
the minds of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and
Justice P Sathasivam to buttress their reasoning for not
accepting the idea.
"The percentage of votings over the years have gone
high and in some states like Kerala and others, there have
been 86 per cent of voting," the Bench said referring to the
reports about the first phase of voting in the Lok Sabha
elections.
"The literacy rate is going up and people are
conscious of their rights," the Bench observed ruling out the
suggestions that water and electricity supply be snapped to
compel voters from exercising their franchise.
"How can a voter be compelled? Can he be compelled
physically to go to polling booths?" the Bench said during a
hearing of PIL seeking to make voting compulsory.
"What could be the nature of compulsion to compel
voters to vote?" the Bench wanted to know from the counsel who
was arguing on the issue.
He said "power and water supply should be cut" to
those who do no exercise their franchise and could also be
asked to cough up penalties.
The PIL was filed by a cardiologist Atul Sarode who
in his petition said compulsory voting is prevalent in 20
countries.
"What is this model to compel?" the Bench said and
wanted to know from his counsel where was the material to
suggest that compulsory voting was prevalent in several
countries.
The counsel replied that it was prevalent in
Australia and sought some more time to come before the court
with materials, which was denied.
"You could have collected some material. This way, we
are not going with your suggestion," the Bench said while
declining to entertain the PIL. PTI RKS
PMR
NNNN
in first phase of parliamentary polls propelled the Supreme
Court of India Friday to disfavour the idea of having a law to
make it compulsory for citizens to exercise their franchise.
The voters turnout of 86 and over 73 per cent in
Lakshwadeep islands in the Arabian Sea in the western part of
the country and southern state Kerala Thursday was fresh in
the minds of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and
Justice P Sathasivam to buttress their reasoning for not
accepting the idea.
"The percentage of votings over the years have gone
high and in some states like Kerala and others, there have
been 86 per cent of voting," the Bench said referring to the
reports about the first phase of voting in the Lok Sabha
elections.
"The literacy rate is going up and people are
conscious of their rights," the Bench observed ruling out the
suggestions that water and electricity supply be snapped to
compel voters from exercising their franchise.
"How can a voter be compelled? Can he be compelled
physically to go to polling booths?" the Bench said during a
hearing of PIL seeking to make voting compulsory.
"What could be the nature of compulsion to compel
voters to vote?" the Bench wanted to know from the counsel who
was arguing on the issue.
He said "power and water supply should be cut" to
those who do no exercise their franchise and could also be
asked to cough up penalties.
The PIL was filed by a cardiologist Atul Sarode who
in his petition said compulsory voting is prevalent in 20
countries.
"What is this model to compel?" the Bench said and
wanted to know from his counsel where was the material to
suggest that compulsory voting was prevalent in several
countries.
The counsel replied that it was prevalent in
Australia and sought some more time to come before the court
with materials, which was denied.
"You could have collected some material. This way, we
are not going with your suggestion," the Bench said while
declining to entertain the PIL. PTI RKS
PMR
NNNN
