SECTION 49.0 IPC

I got this really interesting forward today ( yeah ,sure.. what else do I mostly do at work other than read the forwards I get ;) )... some of it I was aware of, while the rest I was not. Its typically directed against people like me who abstain from even showing their shadow near a voting booth.

I don't vote because I love ranting and raving against the corruption that is prevalent, the ridiculous quota systems that are to be introduced, the growing insecularity of our country, bad roads, free power, free colour Tv's and *blah, blah , blah*. And it makes life a lot more easy because no one can refute my arguments by making the simple statement, " You voted them in". Its simple for me to retort back,"But I didn't. I don't vote".

Just think about it. As long as I abstain from voting I can bitch about the government and the opposition in an impartial manner because my concience is free of the guilt of having bought those self same idiots to power despite being complete aware of their pretensions of being just, kind, fair and people serving over self serving. Were I to vote someone into power and they not fulfil the aspirations that I were to set for them( which anyway no sane person does - i.e. expect stuff) then more than being sorely disappointed I would have to feel lousy for having been one of the idiots responsible of having given that person the car, the bungalow, the crores, the eighth wife, the gold rings, the trips abroad,the slippers, the sarees, the money from gun sales,the money from stamp and fodder scams.. oh yes, crores and crores of money!!

Yeah , you can easily tell me that I am just a drop in an ocean, but I can retort back,"But every drop that makes the ocean counts.Were all of them to go on a strike, the ocean would be empty ;) ). Anyway ( I read this article that stops me from saying anyway(s) ), this is the article I wanted to bring to all of your notices.............


Among the reasons for poor voter turnout in the cities, particularly of the middle and upper classes, is the complaint that they have no real choice considering the poor quality of candidates and the poor public image of the parties these candidates represent. Secondly, many citizens believe that their votes are not really going to make a difference.

Since in the ensuing elections there is no provision for indicating rejection of candidates on the ballot, except by invalidating the vote by ambiguous voting - that is, putting the stamp on the line separating one candidate's name from another -- the Indian Liberal Group recommends a solution that already exists in the Conduct of Election Rules 1961. This not only gives reluctant voters a reasonable choice, but also ensures that their vote does make a difference.

Rule No. 49(O) in the Conduct of Election Rules 1961 says:

"Elector deciding not to vote - If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form 17 A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer, and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark. "

Explanation: In other words, a voter can go to the polling station and tell the presiding officer that he/she does not wish to cast her/his vote. The presiding officer will make a remark that the voter does not wish to vote and take the voter's signature against his/her name in the register of voters (Form 17A). At the end of the day, the presiding officer will, in totalling the number of votes cast, also include the number of electors who refused to cast their vote. By doing so, voters make it clear to all political parties that they are not satisfied with the kind of candidates put up by them. Though they have done their duty as citizens by going to the polling station, they have not found anyone on the ballot paper who deserves their vote. This is the Protest Vote.

If large numbers of citizens exercise their franchise in this manner, political parties will be forced to be far more careful in ensuring they do not nominate crooks and criminals or incompetents as their candidates next time round. This in turn will see the emergence of honest and committed candidates getting into Parliament and state legislatures in the long run, thus leading the way to good governance. After the present elections have concluded, the Indian Liberal Group will press for the Protest Vote facility on electronic voting machines the next time round, so that voters have the option to say "None of the Above" after scrutinizing the candidates on the ballot.

The other factor thats involved with this 49(0) section is a scary section for the political parties.
Here's an example. Say there's a candidate standing in City A.
And say out of 100 people only 40 people turn to vote and out of that the Candidate recieves 30 votes. Then by rule, he's been declared as elected. But say, if out of the 100 people 70 turn to vote. and 30 people vote for the candidate and the other 40 people use section 49(0), to say i am not interested in anyof the candidate. Then if, the candidates vote(which the vote he got ie., 30) is less than the vote against him (under section 49(0) - which is 40), then by rule he would not be elected as winner and in turn he would not be able to participate in anymore further elections. And the election for CITY A will be re-held with fresh candidates. Now that sounds great handle for people!!

And i hope that's why many people dont know about section 49(0) and the politicians and the goverment still tries to keep it a hidden secret.

DO POLITICIANS REALLY COMMIT SUICIDE?

A cousin of mine asked me to research her assignment topic ' Why don't politicians commit suicide?'. I agree, it is a complete rip-off from Chetan Bhagat's 'One night at a call centre'.But quite an interesting question to ponder on. These are just some random facts I collected...

Politicans who have committed suicide - total of b/w 40 -70 ( from Wikipedia)

Leandro Nicefero Alem - Argentina - Age 52 ( year of death 1896). He started a political movement called Radical Civil Union to overthrow the ruling government. His uprising against the ruling govt failed and his supporters and political followers deserted him. Unable to take what he felt as a betrayal he shot himself in the temple.

Viscount Castlereagh - Very unpopular politician who was reviled.But politically achieved a lot . Irish - Britain politician.Claimed he was being blackmailed for some perverse acts .. was asked to consult a physician( mental). Went back home and cut his throat with a letter opener.

John Christopher Cutler - Was S.Governer , Utah. Gunshot death at the age of 82. Reason - Ill heath plagued him and he wanted to end the pain ( significant - His death was at a very old age and his reasons extremely acceptable).

Most important ------

Adolph Hitler - When Soviet Forces entered Berlin in 1945, Hitler knew the war was lost and all that would face him would be torture and court martials etc.,So consulted his physician regarding the best way to kill himself. Married his GF Eva Braun on April 30th.
Same day , Eva and he killed themselves by the means of gunshot and cyanide. A potent combination.
These are a list of the politicians ( intersting ones) who have committed suicide. Interesting point among this ... is that a majority of them kill themselves by the means of gunshot. Reason ? As a politician are weapons easily accessible? Or the more honorary reason of a gunshot being heralded as being ' A HONORABLE SOLDIER'S DEATH'???? I think the latter personally.

Fact remains that the resort to suicide in the case of all of these politicians was more end all, than depression or unhappiness with life as such. The choice when all else paths do fail.

Questions I ask? Reasoning? Is it because the roads of a politician are paved with gold. They do not face bankrupty with all the money they swindle us off? Prestige , power ,bootlicking all theirs? When a student can kill himself over failing an exam , why does not a politician kill himself when he loses an election? What about that a large majority of politicians in India are faced with charges of murder, rape or at the least charges of corruption and bribery? Unlike common man they are always acquitted? The Jessica Lal case where the son of a ex Minister who shot her in a bar in the midst of many witnesses ..and 7 years down the lane they all turn hostile? So is suicide not an option because they always have ways out of any crisis they face?

Important and intersting article - In 2004, Amlashol Village , People were dying with lack of food , water after a crop failure. A politician called Sambhu Mandi told the press that the villagers would not die. That if the trees would not provide them roots, leaves and fruits the villagers could eat Snakes , Rats and Toads!???? An inhuman remark from an inhuman politician? You need to feel to kill yourself. Be capable of feeling those ups and downs in life???

Check out this article - www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006DE6D.htm

About David Kelly, WMD Inspector, who killed himself recently. The author has some very intersting points. The press glorified his courage. The author says, " Since when did the point 'Only the good kill themselves' come true? Was Hitler good? Was Fred West good? ( serial killer ) Suicide is rarely heroic. It is the act of cowards ".

This statement gives weight to the other alternative. To become a politician requires endurance, stamina,cunning and perseverance.It is a great achievment. The achievments might not be heroic , might not be for the good of the country, but still it takes a lot to reach that point. There are many students who face exams . Not all kill themselves. There are those who thrive under the stress, are ambitious and do brilliantly. To become a politician - a successful known one, require that steel and ambition. Can you thus equate the politician with the student who thrives under stress and sets out to perform brilliantly?
Think it over.