SC asks: 'EVMs are fine if you win but tampered if you lose?'

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition advocating a return to paper ballot voting in elections, stating that allegations of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering typically surface only when candidates lose.

"When you win, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose, EVMs are tampered with," observed a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale.

In addition to paper ballot voting, the plea also sought directions for the Election Commission to impose a minimum five-year disqualification on candidates found guilty of bribing voters with money, liquor, or other material incentives during elections.

When petitioner-in-person K A Paul said he filed the PIL, the bench said, "You have interesting PILs. How do you get these brilliant ideas?"

The petitioner said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows.

"Why are you getting into this political arena? Your area of work is very different," the bench retorted.

After Paul revealed he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting.