ECI dismisses Jairam Ramesh's concerns on VVPATs, asserts full faith in EVMs

ECI dismisses Jairam Ramesh's concerns on VVPATs, affirms faith in EVMs and legal framework in Indian elections.

Dismissing Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's concerns on the VVPATs, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 5 said that it raised "no new assertions or reasonable and legitimate doubts which require further clarifications", adding the rules governing paper slips were introduced by the grand old party-led government in 2013.

In a communication to Mr. Ramesh, the poll body also expressed "full faith in the use of the EVMs in the elections" and made it clear that the latest updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) answer "adequately and comprehensively" all reasonable and legitimate aspects on the use of the EVMs in the Indian elections.

"Rule 49A and 49M of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, governing VVPAT and handling of paper slips was introduced by INC (Indian National Congress) on 14th August, 2013," said the letter signed by Pramod Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary in the Election Commission.

Mr. Ramesh had written to the ECI on December 30 last year, requesting that a delegation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) be given an appointment to put forth their views on the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

The Opposition alliance had at a meeting on December 19 voiced doubts about the integrity of functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and wanted the VVPAT slips to be handed over to the voters, who could drop it in a separate box.

The Opposition alliance had also demanded 100% matching of the slips and the EVMs.

"The recent letter dated December 30, 2023, does not raise any unresponded issue on EVM/VVPAT," MR. Sharma said.