The Court has issued two directions, while... ... Supreme Court Judgment On EVM-VVPAT Verification : Live Updates

The Court has issued two directions, while rejecting plea for 100% EVM-VVPAT verification :

(1) That on completion of the symbol loading process in the VVPAT undertaken on or after 01.05.2024, the Symbol Loading Unit(SLU) should be sealed and secured in containers. The candidates or their representatives shall sign the seal. The sealed containers containing the SLUs shall be kept in the strong rooms along with the EVMs at least for a period of 45 days post the declaration of results. They should be opened and examined and dealt with as in the case of EVMs.

(2) The burnt memory semicontroller in 5% of the EVMs, that is the Control Unit, Ballot Unit and the VVPAT, per assembly segment of the Parliamentary constituency, shall be checked and verified by a team of engineers from the manufacturers of the EVM post the announcement of results on a written request made by candidates who are at places 2 and 3 behind the highest polled candidate. Such candidates or their representatives shall identify the EVMs by the polling station or the serial number. All candidates and their representatives shall have the option to remain present at the time of verification. Such a request should be made within 7 days of the declaration of the results. The District Election Officer, in consultation with the team of engineers, shall certify the authenticity and intactness of the burnt memory microcontroller. After the verification process is conducted, the actual cost or the expenses for the said verification will be notified by the ECI and the candidate making the said request will make payment of the said expenses. Expenses will be refunded in case the EVMs are found to be tampered.