'EVMs not tampered when you win?' Supreme Court rejects plea seeking use of ballot papers

The Supreme Court of India Tuesday (Nov. 26) rejected a petition seeking to prefer the use of ballot papers over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale noted that the allegations of tampering were selective and were only made by people when they lose polls.

"What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," the bench noted.

The top court was hearing the petition filed by KA Paul, who argued that the use of ballot papers was necessary "to save democracy." The petition also cited claims made by US billionaire Elon Musk that no EVM in the world was tamper-proof.

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He also quoted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy to make a strong case for his argument.

However, the apex court refused to consider those, saying the Supreme Court was not the place to make such arguments.

"When Chandrababu Naidu or Mr Reddy lost, they say that EVMs are tampered with. When they win, they don't say anything. How can we see this? We are dismissing this," Justice Nath said, stressing, "This is not the place where you argue all of this."

The petitioner had also sought a directive to the Election Commission of India to disqualify candidates found guilty of distributing money, liquor, or other material inducement to the voters during polls for a minimum periodof five years.

"You have interesting PILs. How do you get these brilliant ideas?," the top court asked the petitioner, who is president of an organisation that has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows.

"Why are you getting into this political arena? Your area of work is very different," the bench said.

(With inputs from agencies)