SC dismisses pleas of Kamal Nath, Pilot on random verification of VVPAT machines, voters' list of MP, Rajasthan

The plea filed by Kamal Nath demanded directions should be issued to publish the voters' lists in a "text format as per rules", instead of the PDF format, and expeditious decisions taken on all complaints before their final publication.

The plea filed by Nath through advocate Varun Chopra demanded directions should be issued to publish the voters' lists in a "text format as per rules", instead of the PDF format, and expeditious decisions taken on all complaints before their final publication.. Photo: PIB (Representational)

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday rejected pleas of Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot, seeking random verification of VVPAT machines and the voters' lists in the text format ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 and in Rajasthan December 7. A bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said "we have dismissed these petitions". Earlier, the apex court had reserved its verdict on October 8 on the plea of leaders alleging duplication of voters in the list and sought a proper redressal of grievances to ensure free and fair elections. The plea filed by Nath through advocate Varun Chopra demanded directions should be issued to publish the voters' lists in a "text format as per rules", instead of the PDF format, and expeditious decisions taken on all complaints before their final publication. They said that it should be issued to publish the voters' lists in the "text format as per rules" and expeditious decisions be taken on complaints of duplication in the lists before their final publication. It was alleged that according to a survey, there were over 60 lakh fake voters in Madhya Pradesh and similarly, in Rajasthan, there were over 41 lakh duplicate voters. In Rajasthan, the poll panel had added 71 lakh new voters, the plea said, demanding that directions be given to remove inconsistencies and conduct free-and-fair elections. (additional input from agencies)