Plea For 100% VVPAT Verification Of EVM Votes : Live Updates From Supreme Court

J Khanna: problem occurs when someone makes changes around the software

If you have some suggestions on that you can submit

Adv Anand Grover: there is supposed to be an independent technical committee. They are never independent

J Khanna: human intervention leads to a problem. Including bias. Machine normally without humans works properly and gives accurate results. 

J Khanna: in a shop bar code is on every item. If each vote is given a barcode, it won’t help in counting until you give each candidate a separate bar code. That will be a humongous exercise.

As far as paper ballots, we have seen the drawbacks. Mr Bhushan can argue that.

J Khanna: so you are saying 60 crore votes to be counted?

Sr Adv Gopal Sankaranarayanan: ECI affidavit says they will take 12 days if all votes have to be counted

Adv: a barcode can be used

J Khanna: how will it be fixed on the slip? How to use it when counting? Each vote will have a separate bar code? You should do the exercise before making an argument 

J Khanna: we are in our 60s, we know all that can go wrong

How many voters are there in India?

Bhushan: 50-60 crores

J Khanna: 97 crores is the total number of registered voters. 60-65% vote.

Anyway these are your three solutions. Anyone else?

Adv: there is a fourth option. If the voter feels something is not right, they can file a complaint under 177.

Bhushan: according to me these are the three suggestions. Most European countries have gone back to ballot paper

J Datta: what is the population of Germany?

Bhushan: 5-6 crores 

Bhushan: suppose you put a program that if two consecutive votes are cast for the same person then the slip won’t be cut.

J Khanna: we have understood. What do you want?

Bhushan: we can make the glass transparent. This is three options.

Ballot paper, give VVPAT slip to voter and third is transparent glass.

Bhushan: in 2017 the deigned the VVPAT machines different from what they used to be. The machine should have a transparent glass. In 2017 it was changed to dark opaque mirrored glass, where you can’t see unless a light is lit inside the box, you can’t even see the slip cut and go inside the box.

Hearing resumes.

J Khanna: what relief are you seeking?

Bhushan; everything that can protect the system. First paper slip, and then give VVPAT slips to the voter to see it is exactly as he voted for and he can put in the ballot box.

Bench rises.

Matter to be taken up at 2pm.