Mumbai: In a landmark development, the Bombay High Court has ordered a technical audit of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, triggering a nationwide debate on electoral transparency.
The case is linked to the Chandivali Assembly constituency in Maharashtra, where Congress leader Naseem Khan filed a petition alleging possible tampering of EVMs. The court, however, rejected other allegations related to corrupt electoral practices.
Hearing the matter, Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan permitted a technical audit of the EVMs used in the constituency. The audit is scheduled to take place on April 16 and 17.
This is being seen as one of the first judicially permitted technical audits of EVMs in such a direct manner, intensifying the debate over the credibility of India’s voting system.
Following the order, the State Election Commission has informed all concerned candidates about the scheduled inspection. The audit will be conducted by engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited, the manufacturer of the EVMs.
To ensure transparency, representatives of the petitioner, technical experts, and election officials will be present during the entire audit process.
The ruling has sparked fresh political discussions across the country, with supporters calling it a step toward transparency and critics questioning the implications for electoral trust.
