The Supreme Court is poised to deliver its verdict today on a series of petitions seeking comprehensive cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). This system allows voters to verify if their votes have been accurately recorded.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will announce the directions, following the reserved order on April 18.
Here’s a quick look at key points related to the case:
•The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), among the petitioners, advocated reverting the Election Commission’s 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque one, which allows viewing only when illuminated for seven seconds.
•ADR also demanded matching the EVM count with verifiably “recorded as cast” votes, ensuring voters can confirm through VVPAT slips that their votes have been accurately counted.
•During the extensive hearing, the Supreme Court emphasized trust in the electoral process, urged petitioners not to doubt the efficacy of EVMs, and highlighted the significance of voter satisfaction.
•The court engaged with senior deputy election commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas to comprehend EVM functioning and stressed the importance of voter trust.
•Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission of India (ECI), asserted that EVMs are standalone machines and emphasized the improbability of tampering while acknowledging the potential for human error.
•Earlier, on April 16, the Supreme Court cautioned against disparaging EVMs and advocated a return to ballot papers, emphasizing the monumental task of the electoral process and the need to preserve its integrity.
Stay tuned for updates as the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on this pivotal issue shaping the electoral landscape.
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