'Party Without Recognition From Electorate Seeking Recognition By Filing Petitions' : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against EVM

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition challenging the use of Electronic Voting Machines in election process with a cost of Rupees 50,000.

"It appears that party which may not have got much recognition from the electorate now seeks recognition by filing petitions!", the Court observed while dismissing the petition filed by Madhya Pradesh Jan Prakash Party.

"The election process under the representation of the People Act, 1951 is monitored by a Constitutional Authority like Election Commission. Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) process has been utilized in our Country for decades now but periodically issues are sought to be raised. This is one such endeavour in the abstract", a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka stated in the order.

Observing that the filing of such petitions must be deterred, the bench imposed costs of Rs.50,000 on the petitioner, which was directed to be deposited with Supreme Court Group-C (Non-Clerical) Employees Welfare Association within a period of four weeks.

Case Title : Madhya Pradesh Jan Prakash Party versus Election Commission of India.

Click here to read/download the order