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Supreme Court to Hear Petitions Against Election Commissioners’ Appointment Law Introduction: A Landmark Hearing on Electoral Independence The Supreme Court of India is set to hear multiple petitions on Wednesday, challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 . The primary contention is that this Act excludes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel , raising concerns about the independence and neutrality of the Election Commission. Background: What Does the 2023 Act Change? The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 has replaced the earlier selection process that involved a panel comprising: ✅ Prime Minister ✅ Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha ✅ Chief Justice of India (as mandated by the Supreme Court in March 2023) Under the new law, the CJI has been removed , and a Union Cabinet Minister (nominated by the Prime Ministe...

Delhi Polls 2025: Election Commission Bans Exit Polls on February 5 Election Commission Notification on Exit Poll Ban The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notification prohibiting the conduct, publication, or publicizing of exit polls on February 5, 2025. The ban will be in effect from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, coinciding with the voting process for the Delhi Assembly elections and two by-elections in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Legal Basis for the Ban The notification, issued on January 22, enforces Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits exit polls during a specified period. It also restricts the display of election-related content, including opinion poll results, in electronic media for 48 hours leading up to the conclusion of voting. This move is aimed at ensuring a fair electoral process without undue influence on voters. States and Constituencies Affected Apart from the Delhi Assembly elections, by-polls will also be held in the M...

Election Commission Revises Protocol on Storage of Symbol Loading Units Following Supreme Court Order In response to the recent directive from the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a revised protocol for the handling and storage of symbol loading units (SLUs), officials announced on Wednesday. Background The apex court's latest order on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) controversy mandated that the machines must be sealed and securely stored in containers within strongrooms for a minimum of 45 days post-declaration of election results. Implementation Details In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Election Commission instructed all state Chief Electoral Officers to establish the necessary infrastructure and provisions to implement the updated protocols for handling and storing SLUs. "The revised protocols, as mandated by the Supreme Court, apply to all instances of symbol loading...

Supreme Court Rejects Petitions for 100% Verification of EVM Votes with VVPAT Slips In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed all petitions seeking 100% verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. Additionally, the court declined the prayer to revert to the paper ballot voting system, asserting the credibility and safety of the current electoral process. Directions by the Supreme Court The apex court issued two crucial directions in light of the petitions. Firstly, it mandated the sealing of the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) in containers after the completion of the symbol loading process, to be stored securely for a minimum of 45 days. Secondly, it ruled that the burnt memory in the microcontroller EVM shall be subject to verification by a team of engineers post the declaration of results, upon request by candidates within seven days. The expenses for such verification are to be borne by the c...

Ensuring Electoral Integrity: Supreme Court Seeks Clarity on EVM-VVPAT Verification Supreme Court Seeks Clarification on EVM Verification: The Supreme Court recently sought clarification from Election Commission of India (ECI) officials regarding pleas seeking 100% verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. This move comes in response to a batch of petitions aiming for comprehensive cross-verification of EVM votes with VVPAT records. Queries Raised by the Bench: During the hearing, the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta posed several questions to an ECI official regarding the functionality of EVMs, particularly inquiring whether the microcontrollers embedded in them are reprogrammable. The bench sought clarity on the placement of microcontrollers, whether in the controlling unit or the VVPAT, and whether the flash memory of these microcontrollers can be reprogrammed. Official Response and Cou...

Election Commission Denies Reports of EVM Discrepancies in Kerala's Kasaragod: Supreme Court Hearing Allegations Refuted by Election Commission The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rebuffed allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) discrepancies during a mock poll in Kerala's Kasaragod district. In a hearing before the Supreme Court, ECI officials refuted claims made in a news report, asserting that the allegations were thoroughly investigated and found to be false. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas assured the court of submitting a detailed report on the matter. Court Proceedings and Concerns Raised During the court proceedings, multiple pleas seeking comprehensive cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) were being heard. Advocates raised concerns over extra votes being recorded for the BJP during mock polls in Kerala, based on a report cited by Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO 'Associ...