New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Wednesday (January 5) rubbished the claims of the opposition parties raising doubts over the authenticity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said that the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the validity of the EVMs.
The former CJI was talking to reporters on Wednesday after casting his vote in the Delhi assembly elections.
Delhi went for votes on February 5 to choose Members for the Delhi Legislative assembly. The result of the elections is scheduled for counting on February 8.
What did former CJI Chandrachud say?
Former CJI Chandrachud, in response to a question, told reporters, “Well, this is not a day to discuss this. The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the validity of the EVMs. The Supreme Court is the last voice in the constitutional space on adjudication and it has affirmed the validity of the EVMs. And I think we must accept it,” news agency PTI reported.
Directing reintroduction of old paper ballot system, court would be undoing electoral reforms, apex court said in its verdict
The Supreme Court, in a verdict delivered last year, dismissed the arguments of petitioner to revert to old system of paper ballot and 100% cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), saying that EVMs are simple, secure and user-friendly and eliminated booth capturing and bogus voting. It further said directing reintroduction of the old paper ballot system, the court would be undoing the electoral reforms.
EVMs are simple, secure and user-friendly; eliminated booth capturing and bogus voting: Apex Court verdict
“We have conducted an in-detail review of the administrative and technical safeguards of the EVM mechanism. Our discussion aims to address the uncertainties and provide assurance regarding the integrity of the electoral process. A voting mechanism must uphold and adhere to the principles of security, accountability, and accuracy. An overcomplex voting system may engender doubt and uncertainty, thereby easing the chances of manipulation. In our considered opinion, the EVMs are simple, secure and user-friendly,” the apex court said in its verdict.
