SC seeks reply from Centre, EC on plea challenging use of EVMs without VVPAT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission (EC) and Centre seeking their response by May 8 in the plea filed by Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Ataur Rehman challenging the use of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the elections without equipping them with the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). Rehman had filed the plea seeking elections be conducted with the EVMs equipped with VVPAT. Rehman had asked for directions to be given to the Election Commission to stop using the EVMs without the VVPAT format and instead adopt ballot system for the upcoming elections till the time EVMs were equipped with VVPAT provision. The apex court heard similar pleas on the same earlier today. It also heard opposition parties' plea seeking an investigation into the EVM tampering row. The hearing in the same will next take place on May 8. Earlier in March, the apex court had issued a notice to the Election Commission over a petition on the alleged tampering of the EVMs during the recent assembly elections in five states. — ANI
