Supreme Court’s verdict on 100% EVM-VVPAT verification is expected tomorrow. This decision holds significant implications for electoral transparency. The ruling may impact future election processes in the country. Stay tuned for updates on this critical judicial decision.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court scheduled to deliver its judgment tomorrow on a series of petitions that advocate for a complete verification of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips against the votes registered in Electronic voting machines (EVMs). This decision is notably timed, as it coincides with the day when the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections is set to proceed, involving 88 constituencies.
The judgment will be issued by a bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta at approximately 10:30 am. Among the petitioners calling for this comprehensive verification process is the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), a non-profit organization dedicated to electoral reforms, along with several other parties. This verdict particularly significant as it pertains to the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in India.
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During Wednesday’s hearing on the petitions, before reserving its judgment, the Supreme Court stated ,
“That it cannot ‘control the elections’ or issue directives based merely on raised doubts concerning the effectiveness of EVMs“.
The series of petitions before the Supreme Court argued that electronic voting machines (EVMs) confused of tampering, potentially allowing for the manipulation of election results. In response, the court expressed its inability to alter the mindset of those who are skeptical about the reliability of EVMs and advocate for a return to traditional paper ballots.
The Supreme Court also called upon a representative from the Election Commission to clarify several aspects of EVM operations, posing five specific questions concerning their functionality, including the query whether the microcontrollers used in these machines are capable of being reprogrammed.
Nitesh Kumar Vyas, the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, explained during the court proceedings that the microcontrollers used in EVMs are one-time programmable and are installed during the manufacturing process. These microcontrollers are a critical component of all three parts of the EVM system: the balloting unit, the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), and the control unit.
According to Mr. Vyas, once programmed, these microcontrollers cannot be reprogrammed.
Amid these explanations, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), challenged the accuracy of the Election Commission official’s statements.
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Mr. Bhushan referenced a study conducted by a private organization to support his claims, stating,
“The report says that the kind of memory used in these three units can be reprogrammed. A malicious programme can easily be uploaded at the time of symbol loading,”
Additionally,emphasized the need to resolve these concerns to ensure the EVMs’ transparency.