SC slams opposition’s EVM allegations; says “when you win, EVMs are fine; when you lose, EVMs are tampered”

SC slams politicians over repeated doubts on EVM credibility

The Supreme Court on Tuesday decisively rejected a petition calling for the reintroduction of ballot papers in elections, highlighting the baseless nature of opposition allegations against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale criticized the consistent claims of EVM tampering that arise only when political parties lose elections, suggesting these accusations are mere excuses for defeat. The court’s remarks came after the petitioner, K A Paul, argued that EVMs were vulnerable to manipulation, citing claims by various politicians, including Andhra Pradesh leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy, as well as Elon Musk.

However, the court swiftly dismissed the petition, pointing out that these same politicians never raised concerns about EVMs when they won elections. “When you win, EVMs are fine; when you lose, EVMs are tampered,” Justice Nath observed, expressing skepticism about the credibility of such allegations. The bench emphasized that the courtroom was not the place for political posturing and rejected the plea for the return of ballot papers.

Paul also called for the disqualification of candidates involved in election malpractice, such as bribing voters with money or alcohol. But the court, in a pointed remark, questioned his motivation, asking, “Why are you getting into this political arena?” When Paul revealed that he had visited over 150 countries and found some still using ballot papers, the bench countered, “Why don’t you want to be different from the rest of the world?” effectively dismantling his argument.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, continued to push for the return of ballot papers, with Kharge criticizing the use of EVMs and demanding a campaign similar to the Bharat Jodo Yatra for their abolition. Kharge’s repeated attacks on EVMs reflect the ongoing narrative within opposition circles, where EVM tampering is blamed for electoral losses.

The Supreme Court’s firm stance serves as a rebuke to the opposition’s recurring narrative of EVM tampering, emphasizing that such claims are opportunistic and lack substantiation.

The court’s ruling reinforces the credibility of the current electoral process and stands as a clear dismissal of political attempts to undermine the integrity of elections based on defeat rather than evidence.

The opposition’s continued attack on EVMs seems more like an excuse for poor performance than a genuine concern for electoral fairness.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post SC slams opposition’s EVM allegations; says “when you win, EVMs are fine; when you lose, EVMs are tampered” appeared first on PGurus.