EVM tampering row: Election Commission issued notice by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Election Commission over a petition on the alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the recent Assembly Elections in five states. A bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Jagdish Singh Khehar and also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and DY Chandrachud, issued the notice over the petition filed by lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma.

Sharma in his petition claimed that the recently concluded elections in the five states were allegedly tampered with in these Electronic Voting Machines and these machines should be checked thoroughly. He further claimed that American computer scientists should investigate the alleged tampering of EVMs.

The Supreme Court, however, at this stage refused to pass any order for a CBI inquiry. Politicians have openly alleged tampering of EWMs in the recently concluded assembly elections with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading the charge.

However, the Election Commission stated that that EVMs cannot be tampered with saying, "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."