HIGHLIGHTS:
The affidavit by the ‘Election Commission of India’ was given in year 2013 about the introduction of VVPAT in the electronic voting machines before Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Did the affidavit submit by the ‘Election Commission of India’ followed-obeyed in letter and spirit so far by the election commission and the government at the centre?
B.     Obliviously answer is a big ‘NO’
C.     In 2014, the general elections were conducted without the introduction of VVPAT at the mass level.
D.     Can the fresh ongoing debate over the electronic voting machines facilitate the introduction of VVPAT completely by 2019 general elections?
E.     The answer to this question lies with the election commission and the government at the centre. ‘Foolproof’ EVMs? As the debate rages on, read what EC told SC before 2014 polls.
F.      In Subramanian Swamy versus Election Commission of India SC had observed in 2013 ," EVMs with VVPAT system ensure the accuracy of the voting system."
1. The ‘Election Commission of India’ responded to the charges so far that the tampering of electronic voting machines was not fool proof as under:
2. That the following was the election commission's response to the charges by way of an affidavit in 2013 about  the introduction of VVPAT in the electronic voting machines before Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
3. Did the affidavit submit by the ‘Election Commission of India’ followed-obeyed in letter and spirit so far by the election commission and the government at the centre?
4. Obliviously answer is a big ‘NO’
5. The affidavit submitted by the election commission in the 2013 Subramanian Swamy case (Before Hon’ble Supreme Court Of India) had a very different tone. It had then told the apex court about the preparations related to the introduction of VVPAT in the electronic voting machines. It also told the court that a sum of 1690 crores was required to implement the VVPAT system.
The election commission submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court which mentioned the following points:
“(i) That vide its Affidavit dated 14.01.2013, the Commission had filed the status report regarding the introduction of the VVPAT system in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
(ii) That subsequently, in the Technical Expert Committee meeting held on 04.02.2013, the Committee approved the design of the VVPAT and decided that software fine tuning will be done and completed by the end of February, 2013, and modified design specifications will be submitted to the Technical Expert Committee for approval. The Committee also recommended that the Commission may for using the VVPAT and that the VVPAT should be tried in a bye-election.
(iii) That in the Technical Expert Committee meeting held on 19.02.2013, the Committee finalized the VVPAT design. The manufacturers, namely, M/s. Bharat Electronics Limited and M/s. Electronics Corporation of India Limited have quoted Rs. 16,200/- (excluding duties, taxes and transport charges) per VVPAT system. The Commission has decided to purchase sufficient units of VVPAT for trials in a Bye-election, at an approximate cost of Rs.72, 90,000/- (Rupees seventy-two lakh ninety thousand) approximately.
(iv) It is submitted that the Commission will require approximately 13 lakh VVPAT units to be manufactured for 13 lakh EVMs presently available and roughly about Rs. 1690 crores (One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Crores) (i.e. 13 lakh units x Rs.13,000 per unit) are required for the purpose of implementation of the VVPAT system taking into account the possible reduction in the cost per unit when produced in bulk.
(v) It is further submitted that in order to implement the new system the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 will require certain amendments. In this connection, vide letter No. 3/1/2013/Vol.II/SDR/86 dated 28.03.2013, the Commission has informed the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice inter alia the various amendments required to the relevant parts of Rules 49A to 49X, 66A, 55C, 56C, 57C and Form 17C of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, as well as introduction of Rules 49MA and 56D in the said Rules…
(vi) That the Commission has called for a meeting of all the recognized National and State Parties on 10th May, 2013 for the purpose of demonstration of VVPAT unit to them and for discussion with them for eliciting their views regarding use of VVPAT system in the elections. The petitioner herein and others interested in the matter would also be invited at the meeting.
” Extract courtesy by: INDIA SAMVAD