For the first time in the electoral history of India, the Bombay High Court ordered investigation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Bombay High Court has allowed inspection and testing of EVMs for the first time in the electoral history of India. Bombay High Court gave this order while hearing the petition filed regarding Chandivali assembly seat of Mumbai. Following the order of Bombay High Court, the Election Commission will inspect the EVMs used in 168-Chandivali assembly constituency.
Mumbai According to Archana Kadam, Sub-Divisional Election Officer, Suburban District, the inspection (limited to diagnostic check) of EVM-VVPAT machines related to the 2024 assembly elections will be done on April 16 and 17 at a warehouse of Food Corporation of India in Borivali (East), Mumbai.
During the inspection, petitioner and Congress candidate Khan Mohammad Arif (Naseem) will be present along with his technical representative. Apart from this, all the candidates of 168-Chandivali assembly constituency including Shiv Sena candidate Dilip Lande have been called.
Complaints about alleged irregularities in EVM-VVPAT machines have already been raised with the Election Commission. However, according to critics, the commission has not properly addressed the concerns related to EVMs. In the 2024 assembly elections, Shiv Sena's Dilip Lande had won from Chandiwali, while Congress candidate Naseem Khan came second.
After the results came out, Naseem Khan filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding a technical investigation of the EVM-VVPAT machines. In February, Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan had ordered an investigation of the machines. Two months after this order, the Commission decided to proceed with the investigation.
Following the court's direction, the election officer issued a letter to Naseem Khan and all other candidates on April 7, asking them to remain present during the investigation. According to the letter, engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru, the manufacturer of EVM-VVPAT machines, will conduct only a diagnostic check on April 16 and 17. Engineers will check the burnt memory and microcontroller of the machines. The investigation is scheduled to begin at 9.30 am.
Petitioner Naseem Khan said that in the history of India, EVM-VVPAT machines have never been checked after elections in the presence of candidates and officials. He said that if the candidates contesting the elections have any doubts regarding the EVM-VVPAT machines, then the Election Commission should clear them, which unfortunately has not been done so far. He described the High Court order as a historic decision.
In his petition, Naseem Khan had requested that about 20 sets of five percent EVM machines, out of approximately 400 machines used in Chandivali constituency, be examined. For this he deposited a fixed fee of Rs 9.44 lakh with the Election Commission. Election officials have asked all the candidates contesting from Chandivali seat to be present during the inspection process so that complete transparency can be ensured.
Read this also- People are leaving the glamor of Delhi-Mumbai and settling in these small cities, the biggest trend has changed for retirement!
