SC junks Opposition’s review plea on 50% VVPAT verification

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a review plea filed by 21 opposition parties seeking an increase in random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in the ongoing Lok Sabha

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a review plea filed by 21 opposition parties seeking an increase in random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said the Supreme Court is not inclined to interfere.

Opposition leaders addressed the media after the Supreme Court junked the petition demanding 50 percent VVPAT-EVM verification. They said that they respected the order of the bench, but also reiterated the need for 50 percent verification in Assembly segments.

The leaders also said that they would pressurise the Election Commission to bring in more firm guidelines regarding VVPAT verification.

On April 8, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in five polling booths per assembly segment from one booth.

Opposition leaders, led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, however, sought the review of the Supreme Court order, saying the increase from one to five is not a reasonable number and does not lead to satisfaction desired by this court.

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