New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking compulsory voting, observing that such a mandate falls squarely within the policy domain and cannot be imposed through judicial directions.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, asked petitioner Ajay Goel to take up his concerns with relevant stakeholders.

The plea had sought mandatory voting, penal action against those who abstain and restrictions on government benefits for non-voters. The court refused to examine these demands, underlining that coercive measures are not aligned with democratic principles.

"Democracy thrives on public awareness rather than legal coercion… we cannot compel," the CJI remarked, stressing voluntary participation as the foundation of electoral engagement.

Questioning the practicality of such a law, the bench pointed out that several citizens, including those on essential duty, may be unable to vote on polling days. It also flagged concerns about economically vulnerable sections. "If a person… needs to earn wages, how do they vote?" the bench asked.