Supreme Court Asks Election Commission To Increase VVPAT Slips Verification In Lok Sabha Polls

The Election Commission said on Monday it will make all-out efforts to implement the directions of the Supreme Court to increase random matching of EVM results with paper trail machine slips from one polling station per assembly seat to five "with immediate effect".

The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to increase random checking of VVPAT slips from one booth per assembly segment to five in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections on Monday.

"The ECI shall make all-out efforts to operationalise and implement the directions of the Supreme Court with immediate effect," a Commission spokesperson said.

The bench also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna disposed of the petition filed by opposition parties, including TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, on the issue.

The apex court said it was increasing sample verification of VVPAT slips keeping in mind confidence of voters and credibility of electoral process.

Earlier opposition leaders had demanded verification of 50 per cent of VVPAT slips to which the Election Commission had said that it would delay the declaration of election results by "5.2 days".

In response, the leaders of 21 opposition parties had told the apex court that they do not mind a delay of six days in declaration of Lok Sabha election results for counting of 50 per cent of VVPAT slips, saying it is not a "serious delay" if it ensures integrity of the electoral process.

The submission was made in a counter-reply filed by the opposition leaders, led by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. The leaders said it "is not a serious delay in any manner if it ensures integrity of electoral process".

"If delay of 5.2 days is to be balanced with the integrity of electoral process, the balance will certainly tilt towards the latter," they said in an affidavit submitted to the court.