SC Junks All Pleas Seeking 100% Verification Of EVM Votes With VVPAT Slips

The Supreme Court dismissed all the petitions seeking thorough cross-verification of votes cast via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

The judgment on a series of petitions seeking comprehensive cross-verification of votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was announced by a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

Supreme Court stated that "the elections" could not be controlled, or directions issued solely based on doubts about the reliability of EVMs, Wednesday. The decision was based on a set of petitions alleging that EVMs could be tampered with to influence election outcomes, as reported by Hindustan Times.

SC Verdict On EVM-VVPAT Case

"We went through the FAQs. We just wanted three-four clarifications. We don't want to be factually wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking clarification," the bench told additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Acknowledging the responses provided by the ECI to its queries, the bench specifically sought clarification from an official regarding five questions concerning the operation of EVMs, including whether the microcontrollers embedded in them are reprogrammable, as reported by Hindustan Times.

"First clarification needed is with regard to the microcontroller. Whether it is installed in the controlling unit or in the VVPAT. We were under the impression that the microcontroller is the memory installed in the control unit (CU). One of the questions in the FAQs indicates that it is also installed in the VVPAT," added the bench.

One of the petitioners, the NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms', has requested the reversal of the poll panel's 2017 decision to substitute the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque one, allowing voters to view the slip only when illuminated for seven seconds.

It was mentioned by the court that it could not alter the mindset of those questioning the benefits of voting machines and advocating a return to ballot papers.

The necessity to disclose the source code of EVMs to ensure transparency was emphasized by senior advocate Santosh Paul, representing one of the petitioners. "No, the source code cannot be disclosed as there is a chance of it to be misused," was the response from the court., as per media reports.

The court was revisited on Wednesday for further clarifications from the EC, despite reserving its verdict on April 18 after a two-day hearing.The ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections commenced on April 19 and are set to conclude with the declaration of results on June 4.