Election Commission of India plans pictures of candidates on EVMs to end confusion over names

NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is considering display of photographs of candidates on EVMs to curb the menace of dummy namesakes.

Appearing before a bench of Justices M Y Eqbal and Kurian Joseph, advocate Amit Sharma, appearing for the commission, said there were certain issues which were being addressed before making arrangements for mandatory display of photographs of contestants on EVMs.

Sharma said displaying photographs of candidates was a "good suggestion" and the same had been proposed by the Election Commission in a recent meeting with chief electoral officers of states but there was space constraint on EVMs and it was being addressed by the commission.

"The commission will consider the proposalsuggestion of printing the photograph of the candidates on the ballot sheet on balIoting unit positively after examining each and every aspect in detail and will thereafter try to implement it," he said.

The bench asked the Centre to file its response on the Election Commission's stand in three weeks. The apex court had in July last year issued notice to the commission on a PIL which sought directions for mandatory display of photographs of people contesting elections on EVMs.

The PIL was filed by Delhi resident Akash Gahlot, alleging that people with similar names contested elections to confuse voters and the picture of candidates must be displayed on EVMs.

"Cases of dummy candidates have been noticed by the commission also, but no effective steps have been taken by it. The commission has failed to take a simple step such as having the photograph of the contesting candidate on the voting machine and the list of contesting candidates displayed at the polling booths," the petition said.