The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate allegations made by advocate Prashant Bhushan regarding Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions during a mock poll in Kasaragod, Kerala. Bhushan alleged that four EVMs were recording one extra vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Expressing concern over the sanctity of the electoral process, the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of addressing such allegations promptly. The Court highlighted the need for transparency and credibility in the electoral process, ensuring that no one doubts the integrity of the system.
This development comes in the context of previous Supreme Court judgments regarding the use of EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The Supreme Court has consistently emphasized the importance of VVPATs in ensuring the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. In its judgment in April 2019, the Court directed the ECI to increase the VVPAT verification from one EVM per constituency to five randomly selected EVMs, to enhance the confidence of voters in the electoral process.
The Supreme Court’s directive to investigate the allegations in Kerala underscores the need for strict adherence to electoral guidelines and the importance of addressing any discrepancies promptly to uphold the democratic process.
