New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed two writ petitions: one to arrest the EVMs, who have gone missing for over 1.9 million people, and another petition to use ballot papers for elections, while restoring confidence in the EVMs.

The Supreme Court, ruling on the petition of 1.9 million missing EVMs, concluded the case in favor of the Election Commission of India (ECI) by terming the concerns and allegations as completely baseless.

The petitioner INCP fears that the 1.9 million EVMs lost under the custody of the ECI between 2016-19 may be used to rig the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Dismissing Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Justice Khanna even refused to entertain another petition regarding the use of ballot papers for elections but noted that over 10 cases have been filed on various issues relating to the EVM functionality. Review of issues. Tried in court again and again.

While dismissing the petition, the court expressed confidence in the functionality of the EVM.

Over the past few decades, in nearly 40 judgments, the Supreme Court has placed faith and belief in ECI-EVM and the transparent procedures and strict administrative protocols surrounding it, thereby adding to the evolving jurisprudence in favor of EVM in India. Great value and power.

The Supreme Court’s latest ruling adds to the strong and growing series of orders from the Supreme Court and High Courts, which have reviewed various EVM matters and ruled in favor of the Election Commission of India.

It may also be noted that in a recent case (Madhya Pradesh Jan Vikash Party v. Election Commission of India, Special Leave Petition (Civil) 16870/2022, September 2022), the Supreme Commission imposed a tax of Rs 50,000 on the Election Commission of India cost. The petitioners noted that EVMs have been used in the country for decades, but issues have been raised regularly.

The Delhi High Court also imposed a fee of Rs 10,000 on one such petition (CR Jaya Sukin v. Election Commission of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Civil) 6635/2021, August 2021) seeking to stop its use in EVM: All upcoming elections and use ballots instead.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition by the Delhi State Congress Commission seeking an end to the ongoing Level 1 Inspection (FLC) process of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATS for the upcoming NCR People’s House election.

In its judgment, the court emphasized the robustness and transparency of the existing procedures and rejected the petitioners’ claims.

ECI remains at the forefront of providing information on EVM-related processes and safeguards to the public domain in the form of EVM manuals, status documents, EVM presentations, EVM 40-year commemorative books, legal histories and other publications EVM and continuously updated EVM FAQs answer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)