The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Supreme Court of India announced its decision to hear a significant plea next week, calling for the cross-verification by voters of their votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) against the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). This plea, presented by advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of the NGO Association of Democratic Reforms, emphasizes the urgent need for such measures to be implemented in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The bench, led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna, acknowledged the pressing nature of the plea, especially with the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls commencing on April 19. This judicial attention comes after the NGO requested the Election Commission of India and the central government to enable voters to verify that their votes are “counted as recorded” through VVPAT slips, advocating for an enhancement of transparency and trust in the voting system.
The plea further challenges aspects of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, and the Election Commission of India’s practices that may infringe upon the fundamental rights of voters to confirm their votes have been accurately recorded and counted. It highlights the current system’s provision for voters to see their VVPAT slip for approximately seven seconds post-vote, which ensures the vote is “recorded as cast,” but points out the lack of a mechanism for voters to verify that their vote has been “counted as recorded.”
This call for legal and procedural adjustments underscores a significant concern regarding voter assurance and the credibility of the electoral process. As the nation prepares for the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court’s consideration of this plea could lead to critical developments in how votes are verified and thus, how electoral integrity is maintained in India.