SC seeks EC's view on raising sample survey of VVPATs

The Supreme Court, on March 25, directed the Election Commission (EC) to state, by March 28, if it can increase the number of VVPAT sample survey from one in each assembly segment at present for the upcoming general and Assembly elections.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta sought the response of the poll panel by 4 pm on March 28 and directed it to apprise whether the number of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) can be increased for the satisfaction of the electorate.

The bench indicated that it wanted the number of VVPATs to be increased, saying it is not a question of casting aspersions but a matter of satisfaction.

The bench has now posted for April 1, the plea of 21 opposition leaders, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, seeking that VVPAT slips of at least 50% voting machines in each Assembly seat be checked randomly in the Lok Sabha elections.