Supreme Court Questions Impact of NOTA on Quality of Elected Leaders

The Supreme Court of India questioned whether the introduction of the None of the Above (NOTA) option in 2013 has improved the quality of elected representatives. During a hearing on a plea seeking to make NOTA mandatory even in uncontested elections, the bench noted lower voter turnout among educated and affluent groups compared to economically weaker sections. The court discussed exploring non-punitive measures to increase voter participation and highlighted the growing role of women voters, especially in rural areas. The plea challenges a law allowing unopposed candidates to be declared elected without a NOTA option.