EVMS tamper-proof, says CEC Sunil Arora
‘Expert panel looking after their functioning’
CHANDIGARH:
Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said on Monday that electronic voting machines (EVMS) were tamper-proof and an expert committee was looking after their functioning.
There is nothing to doubt about the integrity of the system, the CEC said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the new academic session of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
The CEC’S remarks came in the backdrop of several political parties in the past alleging that EVMS are prone to tampering. The members of the committee are not the kind who can be approached, influenced, coaxed by anybody, Arora said.
REVIEWS POLL ARRANGEMENTS
Arora also reviewed poll preparedness in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He held a meeting with chief electoral officers of the two states and the Union Territory, which was followed by another meeting with top officials of the civil and police administration. He discussed issues related to provision of assured minimum facilities at polling stations, strengthening of manpower and infrastructure of CEOS offices, filling of vacant positions of elections functionaries at the field level, availability of EVMS/VVPATS and other election material, adequate budget provisions.
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have 13, 10 and 1 Lok Sabha seats, respectively.
The chief electoral officers of Punjab, Haryana and UT also briefed the CEC about the progress of special summary revision, voter helpline (1950) and other IT related applications.
This was followed by a discussion with the chief secretary, DGP, home secretary and other senior officials of Punjab and Haryana, as also with the adviser to UT administrator and other senior officials on various election related arrangements.
Arora directed the CEOS to ensure that all contact centres with a uniform number “1950” be made operational as a single point contact for all election-related information and facilitation to voters.
The review meeting was attended by senior deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha, director general Dhirendra Ojha and director Nikhil Kumar.