"Do not delete data": SC asks Election Commission to ensure that polling data is not erased from EVMS

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission not to delete the data in the voting machines. This follows petitions seeking permission to inspect the symbol loading unit etc. in the EVM. Candidates need to inspect the EVMs after the elections. Therefore, the data should not be deleted.

The court also questioned the Commission's decision to set the cost of verification to inspect the voting machines at Rs 40,000. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta observed that this is a huge amount. The court sought the Election Commission's position on the petitions filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms and others. The reply should be submitted within 15 days. The issue will be considered again on March 3.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Election Commission not to destroy the CCTV footage of the voting. The central government had brought an amendment to the law to prevent the CCTV - webcast footage of the polling booths from being made available to the public. The order was made in response to a petition filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh against this. The order is to preserve the footage until a final decision is made.