Supreme Court asks EC for plan on EVMs with paper trail

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission (EC) to come up with a commitment on when it proposes to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) with paper trails across India.

The system, known as Voter Verified Paper Audit Trial (VVPT), intended to prevent rigging of elections, is yet to be introduced in all constituencies. The EC will have to submit its response to the court in eight weeks.

The issue has been pending before court for awhile with the EC insisting that much would depend on the availability of funds to back up EVMs with a paper trail. The EC has introduced the scheme on an experimental basis in several constituencies across the country.

A bench, comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and L Nageshwara Rao, on Monday ordered: “… we direct the Election Commission to bring on record the approximate time within which the entire system of VVPAT can be introduced, subject to grant of sanction and release of funds as and when required.”

“We also request the Solicitor General of India to assist the court in so far as sanction and release of funds is concerned. List the matter after eight weeks,” the bench said.

The EC had, acting on a court notice on a public interest litigation seeking paper verification of the voting process, agreed to go for it. But the process is taking time despite continuous court scrutiny and periodic nudging of all the parties involved including the EC and central government.