Demonstrate how EVMs can be tampered with: EC

An EC spokesman said the petitioners –– V V Rao and others –– have been invited to “demonstrate the points made in their allegations about the possible tampering of EVMs, preferably in the week starting  August 3,  2009.’’

While disposing of their petitions on July 27, a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan had asked them to approach the EC with their grievance.

The EC has also invited the petitioners, who have filed petitions before the Madras High Court, Bombay High Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Jabalpur bench) to come and demonstrate the mode of tampering of EVMs.

The commission has taken note of certain news reports and   an advertisement suggesting that EVMs used for polling can be tampered with.

The EC has also received a few communications from individuals and political parties on the possibility of the manipulation of EVMs. While defending the use of EVMs, the EC said these machines could not be tampered with. “These are fully tamper-proof. So far, no one has been able to demonstrate that EVMs used by the EC can be tampered  withs or manipulated.

“These were introduced after long- ranging political, technical and administrative consultations from 1979. The use of machines has helped in preventing several electoral malpractices and resulted in more efficient conduct of elections,’’ the EC added.