Gujarat HC asks SEC to file report on steps to spread NOTA awareness

The Gujarat High Court on Sunday directed State Election Commission (SEC) to file a compliance report on steps it has taken to spread awareness among people about the use of NOTA (none of the above) option for the upcoming local body polls in the state.

Vacation judge Justice C L Soni, who heard a petition filed by advocate K R Koshti at his residence, directed SEC to file by tomorrow a compliance report on a previous court order in this connection. Koshti alleged that SEC has not taken adequate steps to make voters aware on how to use the option of NOTA on the electronic voting machine (EVM) for the local body polls.

Voting for six municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar will take place on November 22, while 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities will go to polls on November 29. Koshti said that voters should be made aware about the entire process of using the NOTA button while casting their franchise.

Citing a previous order of the Gujarat High Court in this regard, he said that SEC should have conducted a publicity drive using TV advertisements, banners, etc. to educate citizens about NOTA. He alleged that no such exercise was carried out by SEC till date.

The high court had on October 30 directed SEC to include NOTA option for the civic body polls and also directed the state government to provide all the required assistance to SEC in this regard.