"Release EVMs": Poll Panel Moves Supreme Court For Unused Voting Machines

The poll panel asked the Supreme Court to fix a timeline to file pleas related to the assembly polls held earlier this year.

The Election Commission (EC) today moved the Supreme Court seeking the release of electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in a bunch of assembly polls held earlier this year. The polling apparatuses are lying unused because of the extension of the deadline by the top court to file poll-related pleas owing to the second Covid wave.The EC today sought an urgent hearing on the matter saying the EVMs will be needed in the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and other states, which are due in the next few months. A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana has agreed to hear the plea next week. The EC's plea, submitted by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, also includes the same concern over voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines. "We have to maintain these EVMs and VVPAT machines and hearing is necessary as elections in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab are coming up. These machines would be needed for upcoming polls," Mr Singh said.