 "Rejecting all candidates in polls will not help democracy")
"I don't think this is the way to address democracy because when you exercise your franchise you have to cast your vote in favour of a candidate," she said.
"If you don't choose any candidate, how are you going to improve the election and polity," she told reporters here when asked whether the apex court direction will strengthen democracy.
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Mazumdar-Shaw, President of Bangalore Political Action Committee, also said the court's direction is well intended but questioned about its "right and desired effect" on improving the election and polity of the nation.
"Yes we want to see better candidate being fielded for the elections, not that you want a whole bunch of people who are not votable," she said.
"This will not serve the objective we are looking at. It is just one way of addressing an issue which is very serious concern for every person," she added.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to provide a 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) option at the end of the list of candidates in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and ballot papers to allow voters to show they do not approve.
On the ordinance that protects convicted MPs and MLAs from disqualification, Mazumdar-Shaw said, "It tells you what political ethos in this country is all about."
She also flayed the government's intention to overturn Supreme Court's order to disqualify lawmakers immediately after conviction through an ordinance.
"To me, that is a very serious problem," she added. Mazumdar-Shaw said candidates who have been indicted and having strong criminal record should not be allowed to contest elections.
"Candidates guilty of rape certainly should not be standing for elections."