NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court sought clarification from the Election Commission regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and summoned a senior poll panel official for a hearing at 2 pm on Wednesday. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, presiding over a case on verifying votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said that they needed clarification due to discrepancies in the EC’s responses in its ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) on EVMs.
“We don’t want to be wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking the clarification,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing for the Election Commission.
The SC bench asked Bhati to call senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas at 2 PM. Vyas had earlier given a presentation to the court on the functioning of the EVMs.
The court highlighted specific concerns requiring clarification, including the storage of EVMs and the presence of microchips in the control units.
VVPAT serves as a standalone system allowing voters to verify their ballots.
On April 18, the Supreme Court concluded hearings on multiple petitions and is now reviewing the case.
“We don’t want to be wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking the clarification,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing for the Election Commission.
The SC bench asked Bhati to call senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas at 2 PM. Vyas had earlier given a presentation to the court on the functioning of the EVMs.
The court highlighted specific concerns requiring clarification, including the storage of EVMs and the presence of microchips in the control units.
VVPAT serves as a standalone system allowing voters to verify their ballots.
On April 18, the Supreme Court concluded hearings on multiple petitions and is now reviewing the case.