Legal

Congress Leader Karan Singh Dalal Seeks EVM Verification Guidelines Post Haryana Poll Defeat

Following the Congress party’s heavy defeat in the Haryana assembly elections, a petition filed by Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal and others has been forwarded to Chief Justice (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna for hearing.

The petition, which seeks guidelines for verifying the memory/microcontroller of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), was originally considered by a bench of Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Manmohan. However, since a similar case is pending before CJI Sanjeev Khanna, this petition will now also be heard by him.

Dalal’s Demands for EVM Verification

Karan Singh Dalal, a five-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), is calling for the Election Commission to establish clear guidelines for the investigation and verification of the four key components of EVMs: the control unit, ballot unit, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), and symbol loading unit.

The petition emphasizes that it does not challenge the election results but instead seeks to ensure a robust mechanism for the verification of EVMs in future elections. Dalal has urged that this process be completed within eight weeks.

Petition Calls for Immediate Resolution

The petition stresses that the issue at hand significantly impacts the democratic process and upcoming state elections. Therefore, it should be addressed promptly and decisively.

It further alleges that the Election Commission has failed to implement the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling in the Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India case, which mandated the examination of EVM components. According to Dalal and his co-petitioner, the Election Commission’s lack of action indicates a reluctance to subject itself to any scrutiny.

Congress’ Allegations of EVM Tampering in Haryana Elections

The petition follows Congress’ complaints after the Haryana assembly elections, where party leaders, including Pawan Khera, accused the Election Commission of failing to address potential tampering with EVMs. Congress claimed that tampering was discovered during the counting of votes in 26 seats.

However, the Election Commission rejected these allegations on October 29, stating that the claims were baseless, incorrect, and unfounded. In a 1,642-page response, the Commission condemned the Congress for making unfounded allegations, warning that such actions could lead to unrest and disrupt the electoral process.

Election Commission’s Response to Congress’ Complaints

The Election Commission responded to Congress by pointing out the importance of maintaining credibility and caution when making such allegations, particularly during sensitive times like voting and counting.

Citing five previous instances, the Commission advised Congress to refrain from routinely attacking the electoral system without evidence. The Commission also reminded Congress that it is an institution established under the Constitution and is entrusted with ensuring free and fair elections.

Also Read: Supreme Court To Hear Sambhal Bulldozer Action Case Next Week

Gopal Krishna

Recent Posts

SC Upholds Rajasthan’s Electricity Regulations; Dismissing Power Companies Plea

The Supreme Court has granted a major relief to the Rajasthan government by upholding the…

7 hours ago

SC Expresses Concern Over Rising Trend Of False Rape Cases On Marriage Promises

The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the rising tendency to register rape cases based…

7 hours ago

Adani Ports Mundra Sets National Record With Historic 200 MMT Cargo Handling Milestone

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone set a national record by handling 450 MMT of…

7 hours ago

SC Seeks Response On Vikas Yadav’s Bail Plea In Nitish Katara Murder Case

SC issues notice to UP govt, Neelam Katara on Vikas Yadav’s interim bail plea in…

7 hours ago

SC Slams Telangana CM Over Remarks On BRS MLAs’ Disqualification Case

The SC expressed displeasure over Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s remarks regarding the disqualification…

7 hours ago

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Opposes Waqf Bill; Calls It Legislative Discrimination

JIH President Syed Sadatullah Husaini condemns the Waqf Amendment Bill for singling out Muslims and…

8 hours ago