House panel to examine EVM issue

The controversy surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will now come under the scrutiny of a parliamentary panel.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Congress leader Anand Sharma, has received about half a dozen petitions from across the country about alleged irregularities on casting of votes through EVMs.

The panel now plans to summon experts, officials from the Election Commission, EVM manufacturers — Bharat Electricals Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited — as well as various stakeholders in the poll process to hear their views on the petitions.

The panel is expected to hold its first meeting later this month and plans to submit a report during the monsoon session of Parliament.

EVMs have been at the centre of controversy after the results of the recent round of Assembly elections were declared. BSP chief Mayawati, who finished a poor third in the Uttar Pradesh polls, fired the first salvo by levelling charges of EVM tampering. The Samajwadi Party, AAP and the Congress too joined in.