Supreme Court to Consider Petitions for 100% Verification of EVM Votes with VVPAT Slips

Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by News Desk

Introduction:

The Supreme Court is set to review petitions today urging for the full verification of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes through Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. The petitions, filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and others, will be heard by a bench headed by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

Issue:

The key issue at hand is the demand for 100% verification of VVPAT slips, which has been contested by the Election Commission of India (ECI) citing practical challenges. Justice Sanjiv Khanna had previously expressed reservations about this demand, suggesting that it might overburden the ECI without yielding significant benefits.

Rule:

The debate revolves around the feasibility and necessity of implementing full VVPAT verification, weighing the concerns raised by both petitioners and the ECI.

Analysis:

The Supreme Court’s deliberations will likely focus on balancing the need for electoral transparency and integrity against logistical challenges and potential burdens on the electoral process.

Conclusion:

The outcome of the Supreme Court’s hearing will have significant implications for the future of electoral practices in India, particularly concerning the verification of EVM votes through VVPAT slips.

Written by — Athi Venkatesh AVD