New Delhi, April 16 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to make voting compulsory, saying that the judiciary cannot issue such a mandate - it falls within the "policy domain".

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi asked PIL petitioner Ajay Goel to approach the stakeholders with the grievances.

The pleas sought penal consequences for wilful non-voters and making voting compulsory. The petitioner also sought the issuance of guidelines to restrict government benefits for those who willfully abstain from voting.

The apex court bench said the plea cannot be dealt with by the court. "Democracy thrives on public awareness rather than legal coerc...