M. DHANDAPANI Vs. THE ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE prayer in the writ petition is to install video cameras in each and every counting table and the ARO's table and consequently to record and display lively the counting and totalling of counted votes to be entered in Part -II in Form No. 17C, enabling the petitioner/candidate to cross -check the votes displayed in the Electronic Voting Machines and the total entered in Part -II in Form No. 17C and simultaneously to be displayed/transmitted in the common single screen and also by webcast method in the official website of the Election Commission.

(2.) THE petitioner is contesting as an independent candidate in No. 8, Vellore Parliamentary Constituency. In the State of Tamil Nadu, the election has been held in a single phase on 24th April, 2014. Now the petitioner apprehends that the officials may tamper the Electronic Voting Machines during counting and alter the results. According to the petitioner, the entries of counted votes reflected in the respective Electronic Voting Machines on each table would be manually written and thereafter would be added for counting and therefore, there is possibilities of wrong entries. Hence, the present writ petition seeking the above said relief.

(3.) WE have perused the instructions of the Election Commission of India, more particularly, paragraph No. 3.5. Paragraph No. 3.5 of the instructions of the Election Commission of India dated 30.04.2014, reads as follows: