SC dismisses Congress’ plea on electronic voting machine votes in Gujarat

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Congress’ plea urging it to direct the Election Commission to verify at least 25% of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) with votes cast using the electronic voting machines in the recently concluded Gujarat Assembly elections.

The plea has come in the wake of wide spread allegations and apprehensions on the genuineness of the electronic voting machines.

However, the court said that it found no merit in the party’s plea, and that it cannot override the poll panel’s complete discretion to conduct elections. The Supreme Court bench told that the electoral process is of utmost importance and the court cannot interfere in order to allay the apprehensions of just one party.

The court, however, told the counsel that the Congress can approach it with a writ petition seeking electoral reforms. Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal appeared for the party.

It is worth mentioning here that almost all exit pools have predicted BJP majority in Gujarat elections.