EVMs: petition dismissed

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 23. The Supreme Court today dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) by Ms. Jayalalitha, AIADMK general secretary, which sought to restrain the use of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the coming elections. The SLP was directed against a Madras High Court judgment dismissing her writ petition which sought to restrain the Election Commission from using the EVMs.

The Bench comprising Mr. Justice B. N. Kirpal and Mrs. Justice Ruma Pal, said that ``pressing a button in the EVM would require same amount of intelligence (on the part of voters including rural voters) as in the case of stamping one's vote on the ballot paper''.

The Bench asked why could not the EVMs be used in the coming elections adding that no infirmity was shown in the use of the EVMs. It also rejected a plea on the validity of Section 61-a of the Representation of the People Act (empowering the Election Commission to use the EVMs).

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