New Delhi, February 11: The Supreme Court on Tuesday instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) not to erase or reload data while verifying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A Special Bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta was hearing a petition by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which sought permission to verify the burnt memory and symbol loading units in EVMs.
The Bench clarified that its earlier directive was for post-election data verification, not for erasing or reloading any data. "Do not erase or reload the data—only verify," the Court emphasized.
The Court also deemed the ECI's Rs 40,000 fee for EVM verification excessive and suggested a reduction.
In April 2024, the Court had directed verification of the burnt memory in 5% of EVMs to check for tampering, based on a request from candidates securing second or third place in elections. A team of engineers from the EVM manufacturers would carry out the verification, with candidates or their representatives allowed to be present.
ADR argued that the ECI's SOP for verification didn’t comply with the Court's earlier order. The ECI’s counsel assured that no modification or correction of EVM data would occur, and the Court scheduled further hearings for the week of March 3, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Court directed the ECI to file a short affidavit detailing the SOPs for EVM verification.
