EVM-VVPAT verification case LIVE: Source code for EVMs should never be disclosed: Justice Khanna

People getting hands-on experience of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

The Supreme Court today issued a host of queries to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) including whether the microcontrollers used were reprogrammable. The development comes even as the Lok Sabha elections are headed for the second phase of polling on April 26.

The Court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of vote count in EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips. It had reserved its verdict in the case on Apil 18.

Also Read: Explained | What is the EVM-VVPAT verification issue before the Supreme Court?

During the proceedings, a Bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta asked the following questions to the poll body.

i. Is the microcontroller installed in the Control Unit of the EVMs or the VVPAT? The Bench said that it was under the impression that it is installed in the Control Unit, but in Frequently Asked Questions, it is indicated that it is installed in the VVPAT.

ii. If the microcontroller installed in the EVMs was “one-time programmable”?

iii. Do both the Control Unit and the VVPAT bear seals?

iii. How many Symbol Loading Units are available with the ECI?

Also read: A look inside the electronic voting machine

The Court further noted that the limitation period for malfunctioning the EVMs was submitted as 30 days. However, Justice Khanna pointed out that Section 81 of the Representation of People Act stipulates that the limitation period is 45 days.

“We want a clarification from your officer,” Justice Khanna told senior lawyer Maninder Singh, appearing for the ECI. Accordingly, an official of the ECI has been asked to be present at 2 pm to respond to the queries.

The petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms, had argued that 97 crore registered voters in the country had a right to a more transparent electoral system, with or without EVMs. The Supreme Court, however, disagreed with the idea of ​​a return to paper ballots to restore the “little man’s” confidence in the electoral process, saying machines give “absolutely accurate results” unless human bias maligns them.

The Election Commission of India (EC), on its part, assured that it is impossible to tamper with EVMs “at any stage”. The EC said there have been 41,629 instances of random verification to date, and over four crore VVPAT paper slips were matched.

Also Read: A brief history of EVMs in India | Explained

Here are the latest updates you need, from The Hindu: