The Supreme Court has issued new guidelines regarding the process of inspecting Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta clarified that no candidate will be permitted to change the EVM's Symbol Loading Unit.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, in a significant decision, has established new rules for the inspection of EVMs. The court clarified that if a candidate wishes to conduct a mock poll (pre-election test) to inspect an EVM, they will not be allowed to change the Symbol Loading Unit. This decision aims to promote transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
New Rules for EVM Inspection
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta, stated that if a candidate or party wishes to conduct a mock poll to inspect an EVM, they must seek permission in writing. Following the mock poll, the vote count will be displayed, but it will be ensured that the Symbol Loading Unit remains the same as the one used during the actual polling. This means candidates will no longer be able to change the unit already used in the voting process during a mock poll.
Court Approves Election Commission's SOP
Along with this decision, the Supreme Court approved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Election Commission. These SOPs outline several crucial steps to ensure transparency and security in EVM inspections. Senior advocate Maninder Singh informed the Supreme Court about the Election Commission's SOP, which the court accepted after being satisfied.
Under this, the Election Commission will ensure that no technical malfunction or software tampering has occurred in the EVMs. When one EVM is connected to another, both will be able to identify each other. Furthermore, engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited will inspect the EVMs and certify that no tampering has occurred with the machine's software or memory.
Significance of the Symbol Loading Unit
The Symbol Loading Unit (SLU), which can be considered a type of pen drive, is inserted into the EVM. This unit contains the names and symbols of the candidates. It is inserted into the EVM to ensure the smooth completion of the voting process during the election. According to the Supreme Court order, this unit will not be changed during a mock poll, ensuring that no irregularities or tampering occurs in the electoral process.
Promoting Transparency and Fairness
This Supreme Court move is a significant step towards strengthening the transparency and fairness of the electoral process. EVMs have often been questioned, and doubts have been raised about the reliability of electoral machines. Through this decision, the court has attempted to ensure that there is no rigging in elections and that all candidates receive equal and fair opportunities.
Increased EVM Reliability
This Supreme Court decision will further enhance the reliability of EVMs. As long as candidates cannot change the Symbol Loading Unit during a mock poll, it will ensure that there is no misunderstanding or doubt during the election. This will not only increase the confidence of candidates and political parties but also the public's confidence that the elections are completely fair and transparent.
This Supreme Court decision is a positive step towards improving India's electoral processes. It will now be easier for all parties to ensure that no candidate or party can tamper with the EVMs to influence their victory. Simultaneously, it also places greater responsibility on the Election Commission to ensure that the voting process is completely fair.
