In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission (EC) and the central government over a plea seeking the full counting of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) slips instead of the current practice of random verification of slips from only five EVMs per assembly segment. The court has sought responses from both parties, marking a crucial step in addressing transparency concerns surrounding electronic voting machines (EVMs).
This move follows growing political pressure, particularly from opposition parties like the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP. Alleging irregularities in the use of EVMs, several MVA candidates have pushed for enhanced scrutiny. Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray emphasized, “We demand 100% verification of VVPAT slips to ensure electoral integrity and restore public confidence in the system.”
Earlier, the EC reiterated that any recounting of VVPAT slips post-results requires a judicial directive, allowing only a demo poll to verify machine functionality in routine checks. Kiran Kulkarni, Additional Chief Electoral Officer for Maharashtra, stated, “C&V (Counting and Verification) is a process distinct from recounting. The latter can occur solely under court orders after the declaration of results.”
The ongoing debate has seen the Congress party lauding the Supreme Court’s intervention. Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, stated, “This is a vital step towards ensuring transparency in the electoral process. The matter must be resolved before the upcoming general elections.”
The plea in the apex court argues that simultaneous verification of VVPAT slips, rather than sequential processing, could ensure full transparency within hours. It underscores the need for deploying more officers at counting stations to expedite the process.
As Maharashtra gears up for its elections, the Supreme Court’s ruling on this plea could redefine the role of VVPATs in India’s electoral framework, with widespread implications for accountability and trust in democratic processes.
 and the central government over a plea seeking the full counting of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) slips instead of the current practice of random verification of slips from only five EVMs per assembly segment.){kind=link}