'Blindly doubting system:' SC dismisses 100% EVM-VVPAT cross-checking pleas

The Supreme Court today rejected petitions seeking 100% verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines with paper slips generated through the VVPAT method. The two-judge bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta delivered concurrent but separate judgments.

"We rejected all pleas related to bringing ballot papers again," remarked Justice Khanna during the hearing. 

"While balanced perspective is important, blindly doubting a system can breed scepticism and thus, meaningful criticism is needed, be it judiciary, legislature etc. Democracy is all about maintaining harmony and trust among all the pillars," Justice Datta said in the judgment. 

However, the bench directed the Election Commission to seal the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) post-symbol loading and retain it for 45 days. Additionally, it mandated the verification of burnt memory in microcontroller EVMs upon candidates' requests within seven days post-results declaration.

"Expenses for the verification (of the program) to be borne by the candidates making the request, in case the EVM is found to be tampered, the expenses will be refunded," the bench stated in its judgement. 

Justice Khanna further asked the poll body to examine the suggestion for an electronic machine for vote counting the paper slips and whether along with the symbol there can be a bar code for each party. 

Presently, VVPAT verification is done only in five randomly selected EVMs in each Assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency.