are you really fad up with Indian government ? confuse in voting ? dont worry naw here is a big selution just selcet none of the above button while voting here is a full description NEW DELHI—Indians have a new choice when they go to the polls: None of the above.On Friday, the Supreme Court said voters in the worlds largest democracy have the rightto disapprove all candidates on the ballot, a step that could put pressure on parties to field better-qualified politicians.This judgment allows people to send a clear message to political parties, said Mahi Pal Singh, national secretary of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, which had petitioned the court for the change.Activists said they hope the courts ruling—ahead of five state elections this year and national polls due by the end of May—is a first step toward the establishment of a broader right to reject.Mr. Singhs group and others have long argued that candidates should be disqualified and new voting called if more than 50% of voters reject all the politicians standing for election.Fridays ruling doesnt go that far and wont affect election outcomes even if a majority of voters reject all candidates. But it does lay the groundwork for such a step, said Kamini Jaiswal, one of the lawyers in the case.If a majority of the voters outright reject a candidate, how is he a representative of the people? Ms. Jaiswal said. This is a first step that will help evolve a new system.Nirmala Sitharaman, a spokeswoman for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, said the judgment does send a signal to lawmakers that its time for an overhaul of voting rules.She said changes should come sooner rather than later, but in a way that wont make uncertainty and repeat elections the order of the day.Political activists and anticorruption campaigners complain that Indias national and state legislatures are packed with members charged with crimes.Nearly a third of the members of the lower house of Parliament are facing criminal charges, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a New Delhi-based advocacy group for transparency in governance.Large anti-graft protests in 2011 that brought hundreds of people onto the streets,and a series of high-profile corruption scandals involving senior politicians have also sparked popular discontent.A frustration has set in, especially with our youngsters, Ms. Sitharaman, the BJP spokeswoman, said. Unless we reform the electoral system, we will not represent the aspirations of the new India.During the past decade, the Supreme Court has been a force behind attempts to make the political system more transparent.In 2003, it required that candidates disclose their criminal histories. And in a landmark decision in July, the court barred lawmakersconvicted of serious crimes from serving in national and state legislatures, even if the conviction is being appealed.Each of these steps put together will one day let loose an avalanche of change, said Trilochan Sastry, a founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms.Today was one more step.The cabinet this week, however, approved an executive decree, known as an ordinance, which would effectively reverse the July ruling.But the ordinance still hasnt been approvedby the countrys president and could be withdrawn as the governing Congress party faces mounting pressure—even within its own ranks—to reverse course.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:45:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015