New Delhi, April 11 --  The Supreme Court on Friday, April 10, reiterated that neither the right to vote nor the right to contest an election is a fundamental right, holding that both are purely statutory rights that exist only to the extent conferred by law.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan made the observation while hearing an election dispute relating to the Management Committees of District Milk Unions in Rajasthan.

"It is well settled that neither the right to vote nor the right to contest an election is a fundamental right. These rights are purely statutory in nature and exist only to the extent conferred by statute," the bench said.

The top court further drew a clear distinction between the two rights, hold...