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"Electronic voting is not something which is prevalent only in India. Multiple countries use electronic voting in varying degrees in their national elections. However, use of EVMs in elections in India are not without its checks and balances", the court has added
While rejecting the pleas made for 100% cross verification of EVMs and VVPAT slips, the Supreme Court has noted in its judgement that there has been a trend in the recent years fast developing of certain vested interest groups endeavouring to undermine the achievements and accomplishments of the nation, earned through the hard work and dedication of its sincere workforce.
"There seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish, and weaken the progress of this great nation on every possible frontier. Any such effort, or rather attempt, has to be nipped in the bud. No Constitutional court, far less this Court, would allow such attempt to succeed as long as it (the court) has a say in the matter...", Justice Dipankar Datta has penned in his separate but concurring opinion.
Justice Datta also expressed his serious doubt as regards the bona fides of the petitioning association, I.e., Association For Democratic Reforms, when it seeks a reversion to the old order.
"Irrespective of the fact that in the past efforts of the petitioning association in bringing about electoral reforms have borne fruit, the suggestion put forth appeared inexplicable. Question of reverting to the “paper ballot system”, on facts and in the circumstances, does not and cannot arise. It is only improvements in the EVMs or even a better system that people would look forward to in the ensuing years.....", the judgments adds.
The judgment further highlights that conducting elections in India is a humongous task and presents a novel challenge, not seen elsewhere in the world and India is home to more than 140 crore people and there are 97 crore eligible voters for the 2024 General Elections, which is more than 10% of the world population.
The Supreme Court of India today has rejected all the pleas filed before it seeking 100% verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
"We have gone into the technical aspects and all propositions made by the petitioners have been rejected", a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta has said in two separate but concurring judgments.
Two days back, the Supreme Court had said that it could not control elections or act as a controlling authority for the Election Commission, another constitutional body.
Case Title: ASSOCIATION FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS vs. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER
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