Yesterday, 8th May, The Chief Electoral Officer reported to the Madras High Court regarding the installation of additional CCTVs in EVM rooms. This measure aims to enhance transparency and monitor the electoral process closely. The move comes amidst calls for greater scrutiny and security in election procedures across the country.
Tamil Naadu: The Madras High Court, on Wednesday, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu confirmed that instructions had been issued to district election officers in the state to install extra closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in the strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used for the Lok Sabha elections stored. The CEO’s directive aims to enhance security measures surrounding the EVMs.
Advocate Niranjan Rajagopalan, representing the Election Commission of India, informed a vacation bench comprising Justices AD Jagadish Chandira and R Kalamathi that,
“Newly installed CCTV cameras would be equipped with dedicated lines, routers, and additional power backup to minimize the risk of malfunctioning. “
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He further added,
“Additional CCTV cameras will be installed with separate lines, routers, and supplementary power backup to prevent any malfunctioning. They will continue to function in the event of technical difficulties or other glitches affecting the other cameras.”
According to a report submitted by the CEO to the Court, instructions were issued on May 2 to install additional CCTV cameras in response to complaints about malfunctioning cameras in the Nilgiris, Erode, and Tenkasi Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Advocate ML Ravi from the Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi filed a petition with the High Court, requesting the formation of an inquiry committee led by a retired High Court judge to investigate these incidents of camera malfunctioning.
However, on Wednesday, the Bench reviewed all the arguments presented and dismissed the petition.
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The decision to install additional CCTVs comes in the wake of increasing demands from various political entities and public advocacy groups concerned about the security of EVMs. There have been persistent fears about the possibility of unauthorized access and manipulation of EVMs, which could potentially affect the outcome of elections. The judiciary, responding to petitions highlighting these concerns, has taken a proactive stance by overseeing enhancements in surveillance and security measures.
In conclusion, the implementation of additional CCTV cameras in EVM storage rooms, as reported by the Chief Electoral Officer to the Madras High Court, marks a crucial advancement in the journey towards ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process in the region.