Church panel welcomes NOTA on ballot

The Laity Commission of the Kerala-based Syro Malabar Catholic Church has welcomed Supreme Court's judgment asking the Election Commission to introduce 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option in ballot papers.
Commission secretary V C Sebastian said the NOTA would help bring greater sanctity to electoral politics and end the current practice of parties imposing candidates on the voters without prodding the minds of the electorate.
"In a democracy, the voters should enjoy the right to register negative votes if they disliked all the candidates in the fray. The apex court verdict in this regard will certainly enhance the dignity of democracy," Sebasitan said in a statement carried by the current issue of the panel's publication 'Laity Voice'.

The Commission also wanted the 'recall' option introduced in the Indian electoral system. Reforms on these lines were essential to save the electoral system from the unholy nexus between politicians and criminals, he added.