SC turns down PIL on EVM use

The Apex court today turned down a plea questioning the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and seeking to direct the Election Commission (EC) to withhold their use till the machines were made tamper proof.

A bench headed by chief justice K G Balakrishnan while declining to hear the PIL directed the petitioner, V V Rao, to approach the Election Commission first in the matter.

In his petition Rao has contended that several experts and election watch groups have claimed that EVMs can be manipulated. He has said that after analysing the electronics results of several constituencies they have concluded that a strong possibility of EVMs having been manipulated could not be ruled out.

In its order the Supreme Court observed that the SC could intervene in the matter only when the EC turned down the complaints.

The PIL filed by V V Rao, vice president of the NGO Chaitanya Vedika, contended that there was an urgent need to replace EVMs as these could be tampered with and manipulated.

The EC however, remains confident that EVMs are tamper-proof. The EC has stated the it is amply satisfied about the fool-proof working and integrity of the EVMs.

The EC said it will consider all points raised and apprehensions expressed by various political leaders and individuals regarding EVMs and take all necessary measures to clear doubts about the use of EVMs in elections in the country.