Today, On 24th May, The Supreme Court of India criticized the Election Commission over delays and inaccuracies in its Voter Turnout App, calling the situation akin to “Aa Bail Mujhe Maar,” an idiom suggesting inviting trouble unnecessarily. The criticism arose from a plea filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which highlighted significant delays in the release of voter turnout data during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Friday hearing, referred to the Hindi proverb “aa bail mujhe maar” (roughly translated as “come, bull, and hit me”) to describe the plight of the Election Commission (EC) regarding its ‘Voter Turnout’ mobile application. The application designed to provide the public with real time estimated voter turnout data, despite the absence of any statutory obligation for the EC to do so.
The court’s remarks were made while hearing a plea seeking the uploading of polling booth wise voter turnout data in absolute numbers on the EC’s website during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Read Also: ECI to SC: “No Legal Mandate to Disclose Voter Turnout Data Under Form 17C”
Justice Dipankar Datta recalled that the bench had previously inquired about the voter turnout app while hearing a plea by the NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’, which sought a direction for reverting to the use of paper ballots in elections.
The court’s analogy of “aa bail mujhe maar” suggests that the EC in a difficult situation, where it has taken the initiative to provide real-time voter turnout data to the public, despite not being legally obligated to do so.
Justice Datta disclosed,
“During our discussion with EC counsel Maninder Singh, I specifically inquired about the statutory obligations regarding real-time data uploading on the voter turnout app. Singh affirmed that no such legal requirements exist, and the ECI’s action is driven by principles of fairness and transparency.”
Reflecting on the matter, he added,
“Although I refrained from commenting during the previous session, I feel compelled to address it today. The situation is akin to inviting trouble, as evidenced by the ongoing criticism directed at the Election Commission for its alleged reluctance in promptly disclosing comprehensive voter turnout data.”
As part of the bench alongside Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Datta involved in rejecting the NGO’s plea to revert to ballot papers on April 26.
Read Also: CJI asks ECI: “Why Info on Total Votes Polled, be on Website Within 48 Hours?”
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the NGO, emphasized the public’s trust in the Election Commission, urging the commission not to misinterpret their intentions.
He stated,
“The public deserves transparency. If we can suggest improvements to the electoral process, why should our voices be silenced? The Election Commission has the capability to provide precise data from Form 17C, utilizing the latest technology for updates. Estimated figures are causing concern among the populace.”
By invoking “Aa Bail Mujhe Maar,” the Supreme Court perhaps highlighting what it perceives as the Election Commission’s overconfident approach in adopting a high-stakes technological solution without adequately addressing these critical concerns. This remark serves as a cautionary note about the pitfalls of technology use in sensitive areas like electoral processes, where the stakes are incredibly high and the margin for error is minimal.