#GujaratPolls : Big snub to Congress as SC rejects its plea on EVM

New Delhi, Dec 15: The Supreme Court of India Friday refused to entertain the petition of the Congress party seeking verification of VVPAT with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the just concluded Gujarat Assembly elections.

The Supreme Court flatly rejected the Congress plea reminding them that the court does not interfere in the business of the Election Commission.

Against the background of all the exit polls predicting a resounding victory for the BJP, the desperate Congress rushed to the apex court as last refuge but here also they received a setback as the Supreme Court refused to pass any order on the Election Commission. The Congress tried hard to bargain on EVM but the apex court did not entertain the Congress submission on EVM.

The top court said that it finds no merit in Congress’ plea, adding that Gujarat Congress can approach SC by filing a writ petition for electoral reforms.

The Election Commission used VVPAT in Gujarat polls after its success in the Goa Assembly elections. In this process the EVM dispenses a paper proof for the voters so that they can verify if their vote is cast correctly. This was used in all the 50,128 polling booths in the 182 constituencies in Gujarat in the just concluded election. The official results will be announced on December 18.

The Congress had raised the hue and cry about tampering of the EVMs during the elections itself. Now they have challenged the validity of the VVPAT also and moved the apex court with the request for verification of VVPAT with the EVM. The court has rejected their plea landing the Congress in a big embarrassment on the issue.