EVMs not vulnerable to fraud and misuse : ECI
New Delhi, Mar 14: The Election Commission (ECI) has contended that the Electronic Voting Machines used for conducting polls were not vulnerable to fraud and misuse and no claims to
the contrary have been demonstrated and proved before the ECI or before any court.
Answering a question in the Lok Sabha, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said in a written reply that no information was available with the government or the ECI regarding some foreign researchers conducting tests on the EVMs.
Hence, no steps were needed to make the EVMs foolproof, the Minister said.
Regarding a three-member panel headed by former Chief Justice (CJI) JS Verma on electoral reforms, the Minister said the Committee had sought amendments in the Representation of People Act 1951 for achieving gender justice and prevention of sexual offences against women.
The recommendations were forwarded to the Law Commission along with the observations of ECI. The Law Commission will examine the entire issue in its entirety, the Minister said.
The government, he said, had been receiving suggestions on reforms from the ECI from time to time and were taking measures, including the amendment of election laws.
In Rajya Sabha, the Chair had referred the entire issue of electoral reforms before the Department related to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law for examination of report.
A core-committee under the chairmanship of Additional Solicitor General was constituted to look into the issue of de-criminalisation of politics, funding of elections, conduct and better management of elections, regulation of political parties, audit and finances of political parties and review of
anti-defection law.
Answering a question regarding installation of cameras at the polling stations, the Minister said the Supreme Court in its judgement had ordered that the ECI should consider installing
cameras in the polling booths to keep vigil on local staff on duty.
The ECI too had directed that videography of poll proceedings may be carried out inside the polling booths by the Central
Police Force at the entrance of the station.