Right To Reject – None Of
The Above – Bravo! Cheers!
It is evolutionary. It is revolutionary.
It is so soothing to the ears.
It is unlike those so many competitive examinations that every Indian of this
generation takes or the future generations are bound to go through where ‘none
of the above’ option of the multiple choice questions are, many a time, a hard
nut to crack, creating line of thoughts and thus confusion to pin-point the
correct one.
Here, it is going to be the
natural choice in ‘many cases (many candidates)’ - ‘none of the above’ being the
correct and so the chosen answer.
It would be the beginning
of such occasions, hopefully, if implemented, where we are going to have the
NOTA (None Of The Above) option chosen, and chosen correctly by the majority of
the Indians and there would, obviously, be no fixing allegations here.
Right to Reject in polls is
a reality now after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision today. Let's see what
innovation (manipulation) is offered by the politicians of India to negate it -
the way they are working overtime to shield the tainted, convicted of their
lot.
Also, there will be loads
of wisdom flowing on its ‘if and buts’, on its ‘theoretical and practical
aspects’ and on its maintainability but it is an evolutionary decision that, if
survives the fangs of political manipulation, could revolutionize the systemic
change in the electoral process, as the bench headed by the Chief Justice of
India, P. Sathashivam, said while delivering the judgement on a Public Interest
Litigation (PIL) filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) demanding
the right to negative voting, and so would be a boon to cleanse the political muck
in the country.
What is remarkable about
this decision is it makes things easier for the voter while maintains secrecy
of his decision and so makes his right more accessible to him by introducing a
much needed correction.
In fact, there is a
provision in the election rules in India (49-O – The Conduct of Election Rules,
1961) on electors not deciding to vote. It says: If an elector,
after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the
register of voters in Form-17A and has
put his signature or thumb impression thereon
as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record
his vote, a remark to this effect
shall be made against the said entry in Form
17A by the
presiding officer and
the signature or
thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.
So, there was already an
option for an elector to reject the candidates in his constituency but the
process was tedious and was open to the risk of being targeted by the
supporters (including the political goons) of the candidates once the name went
public.
The Supreme Court decision
would make it easier by introducing the ‘None Of The Above’ button in the
electronic voting machine (EVM) or option on the ballot paper. The elector can
easily exercise his Right To Reject without the requirement to approach the
presiding officer of the poll booth putting his decision on paper and so
risking being targeted later on. The Supreme Court has also ruled the secrecy
of NOTA votes ‘must’ be maintained.
Though the apex court has
not set any deadline for it, we can expect it to be rolled out in the upcoming
assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and
Mizoram this November-December with a pro poll-reform guard at the Election
Commission of India.
Implementation of the Right
To Reject option in the electoral process cannot change the disturbing
political reality of India in one go but it is potent enough to initiate a
chain reaction for further demands of electoral reforms and probity in public
life.
Until now, very few
politically conscious people have been using this right but with increased ease
and accessibility, it can be expected that there would be a ripple effect, a ‘Spiral
of Silence’ pattern of outcome where a silent but increasing number of the NOTA
votes would inspire others to join the voice of conscience. It would bring the
voters to the polling booths who otherwise don’t vote because they don’t approve
any candidate in the fray.
Okay, this individual right to reject all the contesting candidates in a constituency by voting negatively is not going to result in the rejection even if the overall NOTA votes outperform the votes received by the winning candidate. But, for how long?
Imagine the scenario where
every concluded election registers an ever increasing number of constituencies
opting to reject all the candidates with the NOTA votes outdoing votes received
by all others.
The would be the natural
ground to demand the Right To Recall the ‘wrongly’ elected candidates and the
Right To Reelection to get a better people’s representative.
How long can such
legitimate demands be ignored or ‘suppressed’ in the changed scenario?
Politicians! Beware!
Though rare, it’s the real
democratic tango of Indian democracy!