Supreme Court Order to Election Commission: Ever since the announcement of the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha election results, the Election Commission’s functioning has faced criticism from the opposition. The opposition claims that EVMs were allegedly malfunctioning, leading to the ruling party’s significant victory. Against this backdrop, the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to provide an affidavit regarding the increase in the number of voters at polling stations.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar heard the petition on this matter today. The court questioned why the number of voters per polling station was increased from 1,200 to 1,500 this time. While the court refused to issue a notice to the Election Commission as requested by the petitioner, it still ordered the Commission to submit an affidavit explaining its decision.
What Exactly is the Case?
In August 2024, the Election Commission announced an increase in the number of voters per polling station. This decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by a petitioner named Indu Prakash Singh. The petitioner argued that the decision lacked supporting data or evidence. During a hearing on October 27, the petitioner raised concerns about the time taken for voting. It was argued that increasing the number of voters from 1,200 to 1,500 might exclude backward classes from the electoral process, as the extended voting period could discourage voters from participating.
What is the Role of the Election Commission?
The Election Commission defended its decision, stating that the increase in the number of voters per polling station had been implemented since 2019. “No complaints have been received since then. If everyone starts coming to vote after 3 PM, what can be done about it?” the Commission remarked. The Election Commission also urged the court not to issue a notice at this time, noting, “Many allegations are made against EVMs. If we delve into each of these allegations, it will be challenging. Additionally, all political parties were consulted before increasing the number of voters.”
Following these arguments, the court directed the Election Commission to submit an affidavit providing detailed information on the matter.
