A group of advocates, including Bhadra Prasad Nepal (Swagat Nepal), moved the apex court urging it to issue an order for making necessary arrangements for the option of rejection in ballot papers.
The writ petitioners have stated that those voters who want to take part in the electoral process but do not wish to vote for any candidate should also be allowed to express their views by ensuring the right to reject. [break]
They have also demanded amendment to the existing provisions to include negative vote.
The writ petitioners have urged the SC to issue a stay order against the ongoing process of printing ballot papers for the forthcoming CA polls.
They have argued that right to reject can be useful for electing a candidate with clean image.
The writ petitioners have claimed that it is also against the preamble of the Interim Constitution, the right to equality and Universal Declaration of Human Rights to cast vote for any candidate willingly or unwillingly.
They have maintained that the practice of rights to reject can be found in 13 countries including France, Brazil, America, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Columbia and India.
Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi and his office, the EC and Ministry of Law and Justice are named as defendants in the writ petition.
Related story
Ballot papers printed for 36 districts
