Booth Capturing, Bogus Voting Should Be Dealt With Iron Hands: Top Court

A bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice M R Shah said freedom of voting is part of freedom of expression.

Any attempt of booth capturing or bogus voting should be dealt with iron hands because it ultimately affects the rule of law and democracy, the Supreme Court said on Friday while dismissing appeal of men convicted for rioting at a poll booth in Jharkhand. Referring to its earlier verdicts, a bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice M R Shah said freedom of voting is part of freedom of expression and secrecy of casting votes is necessary for strengthening the democracy. "The essence of the electoral system should be to ensure freedom of voters to exercise their free choice. Therefore, any attempt and of booth capturing or bogus voting should be dealt with iron hands because it ultimately affects rule of law and democracy," the bench said. Observing that in elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislatures maintenance of secrecy is a must, the bench said in democracies where direct elections take place it is important to ensure that voter casts his vote without fear and being victimised if his vote is disclosed.