Today, On 10th November, The West Bengal Congress has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state, alleging irregularities and bias in the voter list update process ahead of the upcoming elections in Bengal.
Today, On 25th June, The Bombay High Court dismissed a plea alleging irregularities in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. “A whole day of this Court was wasted in hearing the petition,” the Bench remarked, though it chose not to impose costs.
The Election Commission has opposed extending the storage of polling booth footage beyond 45 days, stating it could be “contrary to voter privacy and safety,” despite calls from opposition leaders for increased transparency in the election process.
The Election Commission has strongly rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of “match-fixing” in the upcoming Maharashtra elections, calling it “completely absurd” and citing a document from April to clarify its stand on the matter.
Tollywood star Allu Arjun filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court to dismiss a case stemming from a May 2024 election rally supporting former MLA Shilpa Ravichandra. Accused of violating election conduct by gathering a crowd without permission, Arjun seeks legal protection from arrest. The court will hear the case soon.
Today (May 23rd): Kapil Sibal criticized the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) refusal to publish Form 17C data on its website, emphasizing the importance of transparency in elections. In response, the ECI expressed concerns about potential confusion and mischief if such data were made public, particularly regarding the inclusion of postal ballots.
The ECI submitted an affidavit on 22nd May, to the Supreme Court, arguing against the disclosure of Form 17C data, stating it could confuse voters. The ECI criticized ADR for making false allegations and seeking unfounded entitlements. A potential legal battle looms as the Supreme Court asks ECI to respond to ADR’s application, raising transparency concerns.
Today (13th May): A review petition has been filed challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the plea for EVM-VVPAT tallying. The petitioner argues that the judgment contains apparent errors and mistakes, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures. The plea advocates for greater transparency in the voting process, emphasizing the vulnerability of electronic voting machines and the necessity of VVPAT verification.
Today(on 29th April), The Supreme Court of India declined a new plea to increase VVPAT verification against EVM votes, citing adequacy of current scrutiny. The plea aimed to raise verified EVMs per assembly segment during Lok Sabha elections from five to a higher number. This decision reinforces the court’s stance on maintaining the status quo for VVPAT verification.
Today(on 18th April), India’s Supreme Court reviewed the functionality and security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in response to election integrity concerns. The Election Commission’s detailed explanation reinforced the system’s integrity, dispelling worries of manipulation. The court’s inquiry was prompted by petitions for thorough EVM and VVPAT verification, and the commission assured stringent security measures.
