EVMs with VVPAT in Guj polls: SC told

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will be able to use EVMs with Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls.

The Election Commission on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will be able to conduct the Gujarat assembly elections, due late this year, using EVMs with paper trail.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar accepted the submission of Election Commission of India (ECI) and disposed of the plea seeking direction for use of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in Gujarat assembly polls.

“ECI in its affidavit has said that it will conduct the Gujarat polls using VVPAT. We are satisfied by the submission. The petition is disposed of,” the bench also comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and D Y Chandrachud said after the ECI’s counsel apprised it of the poll panel’s stand.

The VVPAT machine is connected with EVMs and dispenses a paper proof for the voters so that they can verify that their vote is cast correctly.

The court, however, posted other matters connected to use of VVPAT in polls for tomorrow on the plea of petitioners.

“If the adjournment is without any reason, there will be consequences. You can’t waste the court’s time,” the bench said.

In its affidavit, the EC has said it will be able to conduct the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls using EVMs with paper trail if it gets 73,500 VVPAT machines by September from the manufacturers. -PTI