Maha Council chairman asks govt to give statement on VVPAT

Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar today directed the government to give a statement on Congress' demand that voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines be introduced in the elections instead of EVMs.
Raising an adjournment motion, Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt demanded that VVPAT machines be introduced during the elections in view of the complaints regarding the misuse and tampering of EVMs.
"After the results of the recent local body elections, there were complaints about EVMs from every region in the state. In fact, never before had there been protests and demonstrations organised all over against the malfunctioning of EVMs," Dutt said.

Being an important feature of our democratic process, doubts over its credibility, if not addressed, will shake the faith of our voter in the present poll process, Dutt said.
"Also, experts across the world have pointed out that in absence of appropriate safeguards, EVMs are vulnerable to tampering," he said.
Several countries like Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Venezuela and Ukraine have rejected EVMs and reverted to the previous ballot paper/box system of voting, Nimbalkar added.

Dutt said, "Even the Supreme Court in its judgement over a writ petition in 2012 of Dr Subramanian Swamy v/s Election Commission of India has stated that 'paper trail' is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections. The confidence of the voters in the EVMs can be achieved only with the introduction of the 'paper trail'."

EVMs with VVPAT system ensure the accuracy of the voting system, the Congress leader said.
"Despite the SC's directives to the Centre to provide required financial assistance for procurement of units of VVPAT, the government was dilly-dallying on it, raising suspicion about its intent," he said.
Dutt demanded that the next Lok Sabha and state assembly elections be held with the VVPAT system, for which timely preparations be made by the SEC.
Responding to Dutt, the Council chairman asked Maharashtra government to make a statement over the issue.