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New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) The Election Commission may be open to a system which allows a voter to cast a negative vote but the Centre has told the Supreme Court that there was no question of amending the law to introduce such a provision.
Appearing before a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi, Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan opposed a plea for amending the law to incorporate such a provision and asserted that the existing system of polling was in no way violative of the Constitution as was being alleged.
The Centre took the stance that just as a voter has a right to vote, he or she has also the choice of refraining from voting or going to the polling booth.
Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) had filed a PIL in 2004 seeking separate slots in electronic voting machines (EVMs) to give a voter the option of "none of the above", if he or she does not want to vote for any of the candidates standing in an election.
Though the Centre has opposed the suggestion, the Election Commission in a separate affidavit has stated that it had written to the Union Government as early as in December 12, 2001 recommending such a provision.
According to the Commission it was for the Centre to make amendments to the Representation of Peoples Act for incorporating the provision, as the EC has no powers to decide such issues on its own. PTI
Appearing before a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi, Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan opposed a plea for amending the law to incorporate such a provision and asserted that the existing system of polling was in no way violative of the Constitution as was being alleged.
The Centre took the stance that just as a voter has a right to vote, he or she has also the choice of refraining from voting or going to the polling booth.
Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) had filed a PIL in 2004 seeking separate slots in electronic voting machines (EVMs) to give a voter the option of "none of the above", if he or she does not want to vote for any of the candidates standing in an election.
Though the Centre has opposed the suggestion, the Election Commission in a separate affidavit has stated that it had written to the Union Government as early as in December 12, 2001 recommending such a provision.
According to the Commission it was for the Centre to make amendments to the Representation of Peoples Act for incorporating the provision, as the EC has no powers to decide such issues on its own. PTI
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