The Supreme Court is poised to issue directions on, April 24th, on petitions advocating for 100% verification of votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. The petitions, listed under "For Directions" on the causelist, were heard by a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, who reserved judgment on April 18th following two days of extensive deliberation.
Petitioners and Arguments
The writ petitions have been filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Abhay Bhakchand Chhajed, and Arun Kumar Aggarwal. They assert that measures to enhance voter confidence must be prioritized, even if it means a slight delay in result declaration. Emphasizing the importance of a fair and transparent electoral process, the petitioners advocate for comprehensive verification of VVPAT slips to ensure the integrity of elections.
ECI's Position and Court's Response
During the hearings, the bench engaged in a detailed interaction with an official from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to comprehend the functionality and security features of EVMs and VVPATs. The ECI affirmed that EVMs are tamper-proof and expressed practical challenges in conducting complete counting of VVPAT slips. The bench also expressed reservations about manual counting, citing potential issues arising from human interventions.
Current Practice and Previous Court Directives
Currently, the ECI randomly verifies VVPAT slips from five polling booths per assembly segment in a Parliamentary constituency, in compliance with a 2019 Supreme Court directive. This directive expanded verification from one polling booth to five per assembly segment. However, the petitioners advocate for further scrutiny to bolster electoral transparency and public trust.
Anticipated Ruling
The forthcoming directions from the Supreme Court are anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the electoral process in India. The decision will not only address the specific requests outlined in the petitions but may also shape the broader discourse on electoral integrity and the role of technology in democracy.
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its verdict, all eyes are on the bench's decision regarding the verification of VVPAT slips. The ruling will serve as a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to uphold the sanctity of elections and reinforce public confidence in India's democratic institutions.
