Supreme Court Questions NOTA's Impact, Considers Compulsory Voting Mechanism

The Supreme Court of India is hearing a PIL challenging a provision that allows unopposed candidates to be declared elected without a vote, seeking to make the NOTA (None of the Above) option compulsory even in single-candidate elections. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, questioned whether NOTA has improved the quality of elected leaders since its 2013 introduction. They noted lower voter turnout among educated and affluent groups compared to higher participation in rural and economically weaker sections. The court suggested exploring a non-punitive mechanism to encourage compulsory voting to strengthen democracy and reduce NOTA's limited impact. Attorney General R Venkataramani opposed legislative changes, emphasizing that voting rights are constitutional and amendments should come from Parliament. The plea is scheduled for further hearing on March 17.