The apex court on March 25 (Monday) asked the Election Commission (EC) to consider increasing the numbers of VVPATs per constituency/ polling station and file an affidavit.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta was acting on the plea filed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) and several other leaders including Farooq Abdullah (NC), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Sharad Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Yadav (LJD), Derek O’Brien (TMC) and M K Stalin (DMK) seeking audit of at least 50 per cent of EVMs with corresponding VVPATs.

At today’s hearing, the bench asked Sudeep Jain, officer appearing for election commission to consider increasing the numbers of VVPATs.

Jain replied that there was no need of increasing the number of VVPATs as the mechanism and procedure followed by EC is robust which ensures transparency.

The bench said: “No institution should insulate itself from suggestions,” and directed Jain to file the affidavit by 4 pm today.

The matter will be again heard on April 1.

—India Legal Bureau