Topic(040817)---NOTA

Background

Democracy--Election--Leaders not integral--People not Voting--Threat to democracy.

Way Out

1.Political leaders improving themselves---long term solution

Immediate way out

------NOTA-------

Recent Issue

1.Nota in Rajya Sabha(RS) seat of gujarat---challenged in court

Why challenged

1.NOTA not statutory backing

2.SC judgement only regarding direct election not indirect as the case with o

3.Allegedly increases corruption

Issue with petitioner

1.ECI hav successfully conducted RS election with NOTA before also

2.ECI says it is introduced only after SC judgement in 2013 regarding NOTA

3.Allegedly politicaly motivated

International Example

1.Greece

2.Nevada State of USA

3.Columbia

What

1.Giving option of not voting anyone among the given candidate in the election.

Present Situation in India

1.Available in general election to parliament and state assembly

Development of concept in India

1.2009--ECI want to introduce such option

2.2013-SC gave judgement ob this regard after PUCL(People's Union of Civil Liberty) filed PIL

Benefit

1.Voting participation increases

2.Encourages Political parties to give ticket to better person

3.Criminalization of politics reduces---as more integral person would come to politics

4.Money power would reduce in politics.

5.People can freely vote without being apprehension from political parties and leaders

Issue

1.Politics will improve if we improve as a people----bcz leaders are the reflection of society

2.Awareness of NOTA option is not much

3.Freebies and Caste,Colour and other affiliation garner votes not just indvidual person quality

4.NOTA without disqualification of election have no practical use of the option given.

Way Forward

1.NOTA should b accompanied with the disqualification of election to have actual chances in the working of the people

2.Increasing awareness of the option available to people

3.Educating the citizen regarding the benefit of voting and in general increase in education so that people are more empowered to elect better person to the government.

Recommendations

1.Law Commission rejevt the NOTA option as a way to reject the candidate.

Data

1.2014 General Election---1.1% of Votes Polled.