The Supreme Court has begun hearing a petition [People’s Union for Civil Liberties & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr., WP (c) no. 161/2004] filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) seeking, inter alia, the right of negative voting. The petition has sought directions to be issued to the Election Commission (EC) to make appropriate provisions in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot papers so as to enable the voters to exercise their right of negative voting and also ensure that the exercise of this right is kept secret.