SC strengthens right to choose with 'None-of-above' option in EVMs

New Delhi, Sept 27: Call it a landmark judgement, but we call it the victory of democracy. The

has directed the

of India to introduce a separate option 'None-of-the-above' in all EVMs, strengthening the right to choose their leaders. Till now there was no

and the

were bound to choose from the options given in the EVMs if they had to exercise their franchise.

The judgement was the result of a writ petition filed by the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in THe Supreme Court that demanded a citizen's right to vote in secrecy and to choose or not to choose their leaders, if required.

The judgement has been supported by the Election Commission too. As per a report by the Indian Express, in a letter dating back to 10.12.2001, the then counsel for the Commission Meenakshi Arora had submitted before the Supreme Court that the PUCL could seek changes in the EVMs so that the voters could exercise their voting rights effectively. On the contrary, the Union of India had contended that the 'Right to Vote' was a statutory right and is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional one.

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