On Monday, the Supreme Court is all set hear the plea filed by lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma. He has sought a thorough investigation into the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM,) tampering during the Assembly elections.
Mr. Sharma also said the EVM tampering should be investigated by American Computer Scientists. He claimed in his petition the EVMs were tampered in the recent Assembly Elections in five states. Previously the apex court has issued a notice to the Union Government and sought a reply on the allegations.
The notice was issued over the petition by Sharma by a bench of judges including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Jagdish Singh Khehar and also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and D. Y. Chandrachud. The bench however refused to pass order for the CBI inquiry.
The Election Commission, however, rejected these claims and said the EVMs cannot be tampered with. They said, “Given the effective technical and administrative safeguards, Electronic Voting Machines are not tamperable and the integrity of the electoral process is preserved. If any specific allegation with material facts is presented, it (the allegations) will be looked into with all seriousness on administrative sides.”
Despite the EC’s repeated rebuts, the politicians have openly alleged tampering of the EVMs in Assembly Polls. The accusers include Mayawati, the Chief of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
