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Today, a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will address various petitions regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). These pleas call for cross-verification of votes using VVPAT, an independent system allowing voters to confirm their votes were correctly registered.
VVPAT generates a paper slip for voters to review, stored in a sealed cover for potential disputes. The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections for 2024 commence on April 19.
Here are the top points regarding the Supreme Court’s consideration of EVM-VVPAT pleas
Scheduled Hearing: On April 16, the Supreme Court will hear petitions concerning EVMs and VVPAT, having deferred earlier due to unavailability.
ADR’s Plea: NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed a plea seeking a directive for the Election Commission and the central government to ensure voters can verify their votes via VVPATs.
Verification Process: ADR’s plea emphasizes the need for voters to confirm their votes were “counted as recorded,” aligning with the Supreme Court’s directions in the 2013 Subramanian Swamy case.
Transparent Verification: While VVPAT slips are briefly displayed after pressing the EVM button, ADR highlights a gap in allowing voters to verify their votes were “counted as recorded.”
Previous Court Directive: In July of the previous year, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Election Commission regarding ADR’s plea.
The Supreme Court’s hearing today will play a pivotal role in addressing concerns over the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.
