'EVMs fine if you win, tainted if you lose': Supreme Court
Hindustan TimesThe Supreme Court on Tuesday disapproved of repeated doubts raised over Electronic Voting Machines, berating the tendency of political leaders to question the credibility of EVMs when they lose elections while conveniently accepting the system when they win. File Photo: A poll official with an electronic voting machine “When you lose, EVMs are tampered with; when you win, EVMs are fine,” a bench of justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale remarked while dismissing a public interest litigation seeking a return to ballot papers and other electoral reforms including the disqualification of candidates accused of electoral corruption. After petitioner KA Paul referred to statements by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy casting doubts on the credibility of EVMs, the bench highlighted instances where leaders who questioned EVMs after defeats remained silent on their alleged flaws after securing electoral victories. While the political discourse around EVMs and the scrutiny of ECI are likely to continue despite the Supreme Court’s rulings, the top court on Tuesday reinforced its position that electoral integrity rests on established safeguards and evidence-based approaches, not political rhetoric.