Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking physical ballot voting in India

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 26, 2024

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Dr. K.A. Paul, which sought to revert to physical paper ballots for elections in India, instead of using the widely adopted Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The PIL was heard by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale in the case W.P.(C) No. 718/2024, Dr. K.A. Paul v. Union of India and Ors.

In his petition, Dr. Paul raised concerns about the integrity and security of EVMs, advocating for the revival of paper ballots to ensure the transparency and credibility of elections.

Justice Nath dismissed the PIL, emphasizing the political context surrounding the debate on EVMs. He pointed out that when political parties win elections, they claim EVMs are not tampered with, but when they lose, allegations of tampering arise. He cited instances where Chandrababu Naidu and Jaggan Mohan Reddy raised concerns about EVM tampering following their electoral losses.

The ruling reaffirms the Supreme Court’s consistent position that EVMs are a legitimate and secure method for conducting elections. Despite occasional controversies, the Court has upheld the use of EVMs as an efficient, transparent, and reliable tool for ensuring free and fair elections in India.

This decision further solidifies the legal standing of EVMs in the Indian electoral system, addressing concerns over their security and ensuring the continued use of technology in India’s elections.