New Delhi, 16 April (H.S.):

The Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea seeking compulsory voting for all voters nationwide. A bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant ruled it a policy matter beyond judicial purview, directing petitioner Ajay Goyal to approach competent authorities.

The petition demanded directives enforcing voting mandates and barring non-voters from government benefits. CJI Suryakant questioned enforcement feasibility: In a rule-of-law democracy, voters should cast ballots voluntarily through awareness campaigns—not court-ordered arrests.

He highlighted practical hurdles: Justice Bagchi traveling to West Bengal on workdays, or impoverished workers prioritizing earnings over polls. We cannot compel participation, the bench affirmed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar