Maintain the sanctity of the election process : SC

SC Notice to Election Commission of India

New Delhi – The Supreme Court observed that this is an electoral process and there has to be sanctity to it and let nobody have apprehension that something which is expected is not being done. The Supreme Court also asked the Election Commission to provide details of votes cast using ‘Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail Slips’ (‘VVPATs’) along with voting machines (including ‘Electronic Voting Machines’). ‘VVPAT’ is a system that after voting for a particular party, the system makes it clear on the machine itself whether the vote cast by the voter has been protected by his preferred party. This system can detect possible errors in the voting machine. An ECI official was present before the SC bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta that heard pleas seeking cross-verification of votes cast with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail, explaining the working of EVMs and VVPAT. The Supreme Court asked election commission of India (ECI) to look into the allegation made by Advocate Prashant Bhushan that during a mock poll in Kasaragod, Kerala four Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) recorded four extra votes for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Advocate Prashant Bhushan claimed from the side of the ruling left democratic alliance and the United Democratic Front in Kerala.