Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (image:facebook.com/arjunrammeghwalBJP)
New Delhi: Referring to the repeated assurances from the poll body and judgments by various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, the Central government reiterated in Parliament that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are credible and reliable. This was in response to apprehensions raised by Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, with Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal giving the assurance in a written reply.
As Samajwadi Party (SP) MP had asked whether “suspicious” voters cast their votes in the last Lok Sabha elections, citing the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Minister said that the poll body has informed to the public that there is no category of “suspicious voters” as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Also Read | Days After Raid, ED Summons Anil Ambani In Rs 17,000 Crore Loan Fraud Case
“The ECI has informed that the election results cannot be manipulated on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs),” the Minister said in the response.
Union Minister further detailed the steps taken by the ECI to dispel the apprehensions raised among the voters regarding the voting process through EVM. The ECI underlined that there is no doubt regarding the fairness and integrity of EVMs, citing their successful performance in several elections and their withstanding of public and legal scrutiny over the years.
Furthermore, the Minister stated that ECI has informed that at least 42 petitions challenging the use of EVMs were brought before various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India. “…after going through various aspects of the technological soundness and the administrative safeguards
involved in the use of EVMs, the Hon’ble courts have repeatedly held that EVMs are tamper proof, credible and reliable,” the Minister added.
Also Read | Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road Project: Centre Responds
To further dispel any concerns regarding the voting process, the poll body has made a wealth of EVM-related documents publicly available on its website and these include manuals on EVM and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), presentations, status papers, legal histories, and FAQs.
