If you don't vote, you have no right to blame government: SC

The Supreme Court (SC) on 5 February 2017 directed that the people, who do not exercise their right to vote, do not have any right to question or blame the government.

The ruling was made by a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar while hearing a petition of an activist seeking a blanket order to remove encroachments in the country. On this, the court ruled that one cannot blame the government for everything.

The bench, which also comprised Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, also ruled that it cannot look into encroachments in a matter involving all states while sitting in Delhi and rather asked the petitioner to approach different High Courts where he saw such encroachments on roads or pavements.

Background
The ruling came when Dhanesh Ieshdhan, appearing in person for Delhi-based NGO 'Voice of India', kept his point in front of the Bench that the governments do not do anything to remove the encroachments in the country. Dhanesh Ieshdhan was seeking a blanket order to remove encroachments in the country.

On this, when the bench asked whether he has voted or not, his negative reply irked the bench in giving the aforesaid ruling that if you have casted your vote, then you have no right to blame the government. However, it granted liberty to the NGO to seek remedy state-wise before the High Courts.

In August 2016, while hearing the plea, the bench also emphasised that due to its limited capacity, it cannot order for the establishment of 'Ram Rajya' in the country.