The Supreme Court’s rejection of petitions advocating for 100 percent cross-verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with paper slips from the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) method demonstrates a judicious balancing act between addressing concerns about electoral integrity and maintaining trust in democratic institutions. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making and fostering a culture of constructive criticism within a democratic framework.
The Court’s directives to the Election Commission, including sealing the Symbol Loading Unit and conducting post-result verification of a sample of EVMs, reflect a pragmatic approach aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability while recognizing the practical constraints of full-scale cross-verification.