Petition seeking to create awareness on NOTA rejected

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice S Subramonium Prasad on perusing the counter filed by the EC set aside the plea after holding that the poll body has undertaken adequate awareness in this regard.

The petitioner Nirmal Kumar had submitted that the EC has failed to create awareness on NOTA which enables voters to officially register a vote of rejection for all candidates who are contesting in their respective constituencies.

This had resulted in the voters being forced by certain candidates to cast their votes in latter’s favour. Pointing out that such a clandestine campaign by candidates infringes into the freedom of the voters to exercise their franchise as per their choice, he sought for a direction to the EC to include NOTA in its campaign for augmenting the voting percentage.

However, the bench on holding that the counter filed by the EC spells out all the steps taken to create awareness, said besides advertising about NOTA at bus stands and theatres, pamphlets have been distributed regarding the same. 

The Election Commission also said that LED TVs displaying the aspects of NOTA has been placed at Koyambedu, the Marina and Besant Nagar apart from holding cultural programmes and advertising at Metros and Southern Railways. Also, display boards have been placed in all the offices of the 32 district Collectors and taluk offices in the State.