Should NOTA Be Available Even for Uncontested Elections? Supreme Court Asks ECI

The Supreme Court has raised a pressing question: in elections with only one candidate, should voters be stripped of the NOTA (None of the Above) option?

A bench observed that a substantial NOTA vote in such cases could represent an “invisible will” against the sole contender. 

Hearing a PIL under Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act and Rule 11 of the Conduct of Election Rules, the court observed that discontent may exist even without rival candidates.

The Election Commission said it had no objection if the law permitted. The court adjourned the case, awaiting the Union’s affidavit, and allowed ADR’s intervention.

[Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy V UOI & Anr.]