Monday, January 24 2005 14:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Jan 24, 2005) issued notice to the Attorney General of India on a petition seeking confirmation of right to a voter to vote or not vote on the ground that the candidates in the fray are not suitable.

The provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act at present allow a voter to go to the returning officer and register his name as the one who did not want to vote due to non-suitability of the candidates.

The Election Commission (EC) supported the petition saying it has already written twice to the Government in 2001 and 2004 seeking amendment to the Representation of People Act so that a voter can exercise his right not to vote in the ballot paper or the electronic voting machine itself.

The court after issuing notice to the Attorney General Milon Bannerjee adjourned the matter for four weeks.