Petition Seeks Full Transparency in India’s EVMs

Petitioner urges Constitutional Bench to mandate 100% VVPAT verification, independent audits, and oversight panels to protect free and fair elections.

 
A writ petition has to be filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India under Article 32, seeking urgent constitutional intervention to ensure transparency in the country’s electoral process. The petitioner argues that the current practice of verifying only 5% of VVPAT slips undermines the constitutional guarantees of equality, freedom of expression, and universal suffrage.

The petition highlights past Supreme Court judgments, including PUCL vs Union of India (2003) and Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India (2013), which recognized the voter’s right to know and directed the introduction of VVPAT. It further points to the April 2024 ruling that limited verification, urging the Constitutional Bench to reconsider this stance in light of democratic principles.

Expert reports and international precedents are annexed to the petition, demonstrating that several countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have abandoned EVMs due to transparency concerns. Statistical data presented shows that partial verification leaves a significant probability of undetected tampering, especially in elections involving over 900 million voters.

The petitioner respectfully seeks directions for 100% VVPAT verification, independent technical audits of EVM firmware and chips, and the creation of an independent monitoring panel to oversee strong‑room and counting processes. The reliefs sought aim to reaffirm the Supreme Court’s role as the guardian of the Constitution and restore public faith in India’s electoral system.