GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court, in a hearing on Tuesday, questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the existence of laws prescribing punishment for officials and authorities found manipulating Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta emphasised the necessity for stringent punishment to deter potential manipulation, expressing concern over the absence of specific provisions addressing such offenses.
The Court's inquiry arose during a batch of petitions related to the thorough counting of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in elections, with petitioners advocating for the tallying of all VVPAT slips with EVMs. While deliberating on the practicality of these suggestions, the bench highlighted the potential biases and problems arising from human intervention in the polling and counting process.
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Addressing concerns about the trustworthiness of the electoral system, Justice Datta urged against undermining the existing system, emphasising the need to instill trust and faith in the process. The Court also dismissed pleas to revert to paper ballots, citing past issues with the ballot paper system and indicating a preference for technological advancements.
During the proceedings, the Court suggested the possibility of independent technical inspections of EVMs after voting is completed to prevent foul play. Additionally, it sought clarification on the installation of CCTV cameras at polling booths.
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Responding to the Court's queries, the ECI informed that CCTV cameras are installed in 50 percent of polling booths. The hearing is set to continue on April 18, with the plea focusing on the use of EVMs alongside VVPAT slips in elections. Advocates representing the petitioners argued for increased transparency in the electoral process to assuage any doubts in the minds of citizens.