‘Do not erase data’: The Supreme Court to poll the poll body on EVM verification petition. India News – The Times of India

New Delhi: Supreme Court sought on Tuesday Election Commission of IndiaFor arguments seeking verification of burnt memory and symbol loading units (ECI) response Electronic voting machines (EVM) in compliance with its decision.
A special bench that includes Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta asked the pole panel to erase or avoid loading data during the verification process.
The arguments sought a direction of ECI and to check and verify the burnt memory/micro-controller and symbol loading unit (SLU) of EVMs.
The SC bench asked the pole panel to enter its response within 15 days and explain the adoption and posting the case in the week starting on March 3.
NGO Association for democratic reforms (ADR), in a new petition, argued that for the standard operation process of the Election Commission EVM verification Did not align with court verdict EVM-VVPAT case,
On 26 April 2024, in the judgment, the apex court rejected the demand for a return to paper ballots, confirming that the EVMs were safe and helped to catch the booth and eliminate fraud voting.
However, the ruling provided an opportunity for the candidates who finished second or third in elections, which request verification of micro-controller chips in 5 percent EVMs per assembly constituency.
This verification can be sought through a written request and the Election Commission of India by paying the prescribed fee.
On Tuesday, the bench sought an explanation from the Election Commission about the elimination of voting data and re -loading.
It emphasized that the court’s decision did not require such measures, but was called only by an engineer of the manufacturing company for verification of EVMs.
“What we used to intend was that if someone asks after elections, the engineer should come and certify, according to him, in his presence, there is no tampering in any burnt memory or microchips. Why does all erase? ” According to the news agency PTI, asked the CJI.
He said, “We did not want such a detailed process to load something again. Erase the data, do not re -load the data – all you have to do is to verify and check,” he said.
The apex court also refused to entertain a new petition by former Haryana minister and five -time MLA Karan Singh Dalal, expressing displeasure over hiding the details about a similar petition, which was withdrawn earlier. .
The court also directed that, since May 1, 2024, symbol loading units are sealed in a container and stored with EVMs in a strong room for at least 45 days after the election results were declared. goes.
The bench also expressed concern over the cost of verification set by the EC that an EVM was charged Rs 40,000 for verifying.
“Reduce the cost of 40,000 – it’s too high,” it said.
In search of the reaction of the pole panel, the bench recorded its assurance that there would be no amendment or improvement of EVM data during the verification process.
“Mr. Singh (ECI lawyer) says that he will explain a brief affidavit to explain the process adopted by him and clarify the situation. They also say that they will not make any amendments/improvements of the data,” said this.