November 26, 2024: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to traditional ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during elections. The petition, filed by activist and political leader KA Paul, had raised concerns about the integrity of EVMs, citing allegations of tampering during recent elections.

During the hearing, the bench observed that such allegations were often made by political leaders only after losing elections. Referring specifically to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Telugu Desam Party leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Court pointed out, “When Chandrababu Naidu or Reddy lost, they said that EVMs were tampered with, and when they won, they didn’t say anything. How can we see this? We are dismissing this. This is not the place where you argue all of this."

The petitioner, KA Paul, who had also referenced comments made by tech mogul Elon Musk on the potential vulnerability of EVMs, argued that India should move away from EVMs and adopt the ballot paper system, which he claimed was safer and more reliable. Paul, who has traveled to over 150 countries, contended that most nations still used paper ballots, urging India to follow suit to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

The Supreme Court was not convinced by these arguments, with the bench questioning the logic of reverting to an outdated system. "Why don’t you want to be different from the rest of the world?" the Court remarked, dismissing the plea for ballot papers.

In addition to the EVM concerns, the petition also called for stronger regulations on the use of money and liquor during election campaigns, proposing a comprehensive framework to curb such practices. It also requested a national voter education campaign to raise awareness about the importance of informed voting.

While the petitioner’s concerns regarding EVMs found little traction, Congress party leaders have recently echoed similar grievances, particularly after their losses in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls. The Congress has raised questions about the reliability of the EVMs in the general elections and state polls, though the Election Commission has consistently dismissed such allegations, asserting that there was no evidence of tampering or malpractices.

The Election Commission reiterated that all electoral processes, including the use of EVMs, were conducted in full compliance with the law and had undergone rigorous checks to ensure fairness and transparency.