Advocate Mahmood Pracha has approached the Supreme Court, advocating for the use of traditional ballot papers in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He seeks permission to intervene in the ongoing matter concerning Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) verification.
In his application, Pracha emphasizes the need for fair, transparent, and manipulation-free elections, as mandated by the constitution and statutes.
He asserts that despite repeated requests to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for conducting elections through ballot papers, his appeals have gone unanswered.
Drawing from the ECI Handbook titled “EVM BROCHURE FOR CANDIDATES & POLITICAL PARTIES”, Pracha argues that EVMs lack inherent security features.
He contends that the integrity of the voting process relies solely on honest supervision and handling by stakeholders.
Pracha highlights provisions within the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, and Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which establish ballot papers and boxes as the standard for elections.
He suggests that the use of EVMs should be exceptional and justified on a case-by-case basis, with reasons recorded in an order.
Moreover, Pracha proposes that a system allowing voters to deposit the VVPAT slip in a ballot box themselves would enhance transparency compared to the current system.
He critiques the current VVPAT mechanism, arguing that merely visually inspecting a slip through glass does not constitute true Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
It is noteworthy that Pracha himself is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from a constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
