- March 17, 2024
CEC defends EVMs with rhyme and reasons | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: CEC Rajiv Kumar used some ‘shayari’ (Urdu poetry) to defend electronic voting machines (EVM), saying those doubting the “100% foolproof” device were merely using EVMs as the fall guy for their “unfulfilled desires”.
“Adhoori hasraton ka ilzaam har bar hum par lagana theek nahi, wafa khud se nahi hoti, khata EVM ki kehte ho…,” Kumar said, adding that he had written this couplet only the night before, anticipating a question on EVMs at Saturday’s press conference to announce the general election.
Kumar took a dig at self-proclaimed experts using questionable prototypes to display the fallibility of real EVMs and VVPATs on social media, reminding them how Supreme Court and high courts have heard EVM-related challenges 40 times in the past and rejected each of them.
The CEC said while he agreed a totaliser is needed for EVMs to maintain voter secrecy and that the technology is ready, “as of now even the result of a single EVM is being doubted… If I were to combine votes of 14 EVMs, people would be even more suspicious,” he said and added that time should be allowed for the political system to mature.
Kumar said the technology for migrants from across 72 assembly segments to vote through one EVM had been developed and EC was ready to start remote voting electronically, “but it takes time to assimilate (new technology)”.
“Perhaps the time for the idea has not come yet,” he conceded.
Citing court verdicts upholding EVMs, Kumar said, “The courts have held EVMs are foolproof devices and that allegations of tampering are baseless. SC asked us (EC) to count slips from five VVPATs per assembly segment and we complied. Now, the courts have even started imposing fines for frivolous petitions related to EVMs. Delhi high court imposed a Rs 10,000 fine for a mischievous petition. SC too imposed a Rs 50,000 fine.”
He added that EVMs were 100% safe and foolproof, with a large number of improvements made over the years and with the movement of EVMs being disclosed to the candidates in real time.
“Adhoori hasraton ka ilzaam har bar hum par lagana theek nahi, wafa khud se nahi hoti, khata EVM ki kehte ho…,” Kumar said, adding that he had written this couplet only the night before, anticipating a question on EVMs at Saturday’s press conference to announce the general election.
Kumar took a dig at self-proclaimed experts using questionable prototypes to display the fallibility of real EVMs and VVPATs on social media, reminding them how Supreme Court and high courts have heard EVM-related challenges 40 times in the past and rejected each of them.
The CEC said while he agreed a totaliser is needed for EVMs to maintain voter secrecy and that the technology is ready, “as of now even the result of a single EVM is being doubted… If I were to combine votes of 14 EVMs, people would be even more suspicious,” he said and added that time should be allowed for the political system to mature.
Kumar said the technology for migrants from across 72 assembly segments to vote through one EVM had been developed and EC was ready to start remote voting electronically, “but it takes time to assimilate (new technology)”.
“Perhaps the time for the idea has not come yet,” he conceded.
Citing court verdicts upholding EVMs, Kumar said, “The courts have held EVMs are foolproof devices and that allegations of tampering are baseless. SC asked us (EC) to count slips from five VVPATs per assembly segment and we complied. Now, the courts have even started imposing fines for frivolous petitions related to EVMs. Delhi high court imposed a Rs 10,000 fine for a mischievous petition. SC too imposed a Rs 50,000 fine.”
He added that EVMs were 100% safe and foolproof, with a large number of improvements made over the years and with the movement of EVMs being disclosed to the candidates in real time.
