Plea For 100% Verification By VVPAT Machine Refused By Supreme Court

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A petition was filed by a Trinamool Congress leader for 100% verification of votes by the VVPAT machine.
• The plea was heard by a 3 judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Chief Justice S.A Bobde, Justice A.S Bopanna, Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
• The petitioner, in this case, was Gopal Seth, a Trinamool Congress leader who filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order passed by the Calcutta High Court.

BACKGROUND DETAILS

• The petitioner had approached the Calcutta High Court but his petition was dismissed because the High Court stated that the Supreme Court had earlier passed a verdict on the same issue and thus accordingly taking reference to the apex court order dismissed the petition.
• Back in 2019, the apex court had rejected a plea wherein several opposition political parties had demanded 50% verification by VVPAT machine however, the petition was dismissed.
• Instead, the Supreme Court directed the election commission to increase the VVPAT verification from 1 to 5 EVMs in the Lok Sabha election that would be satisfactory for not only the political parties but also the electorate in general.

WHAT IS VVPAT?

(VVPAT) Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail is a system that is attached with the (EVM) Electronic Voting Machine to ascertain that their votes have been cast rightfully to the candidate or party they intended to vote.

It also works as an obstacle that does not allows anybody to alter or damage the vote. Those electronic voting machines that are attached to the VVPAT machine safeguards the voting system and does not allow any mischief. It also ensures absolute transparency.

FURTHER DETAILS

• The bench headed by the Chief Justice had asked the counsel for the petitioner whether they made an indication before the Election Commission on this matter. To which the counsel replied in the affirmation that the Election Commission appreciated the move.
• The petitioner also asserted that a free and fair trial is the right of every citizen.
• However, the Supreme Court dismissed this petition filed by the Trinamool Congress leader stating that it won’t interfere in the middle of the election process.

News of EVM hacking or EVM being found in a politician’s car have been in news, do you think the VVPAT machine can be a solution? Yes or No Comment below.