Electronic voting machines are foolproof: SY Quraishi

Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi today batted for use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during elections, calling them "tamper-proof" despite concerns of some political parties over its unreliability.

Quraishi, who has been holding consultations with political parties in this regard since taking over early this month, said the Election Commission (EC) was 100% certain that the EVMs were "tamper-proof and reliable" as they were designed that way.

He told the Walk the Talk programme on NDTV that the EC was "continuously developing" upgraded versions of the EVMs to make them the most effective means to prevent bogus voting and booth capturing.

"EVMs are practically totally tamper proof, but political parties are theoretically saying this or that (tampering and misuse) could happen. Every possible mischief, we are trying to take them all out. We are making technological improvements (to EVMs) all the time," he said.

Noting that civil servants, during election, did an exceedingly commendable job, the CEC said there were instances when they became targets of regimes for how they performed on election duty.

"They become victims and singled out. We want to protect such honest civil servants. We have discussed the issue informally with the government, including prime minister and the law ministry. We are certainly look at this kind of an electoral reforms to protect these civil servants," he said.

He also put the onus of eliminating criminalisation of politics at the hands of Parliament saying it had to legislate banning criminals from contesting elections.

He said it could not be expected that a mere filing of a case against some person should bar him or her from contesting elections. But a fair, thought out stage would be when charges were framed against that person which, if convicted, would mean a minimum of five years of imprisonment, he added.

Describing the role of CEC as "one of the most difficult professions", Quraishi admitted that it was certainly rewarding and satisfying.

"It is most difficult because it is the biggest management exercise of any kind in the world... not just electoral management, but any management (of election exercise). We have to reach even the last voter, staff have to walk for days to reach that voter. The sheer size and magnitude," he said.

"Rewarding, because of the faith the nation has repose in EC and the fact that we are able to keep democracy on rails and because of our credibility," he added.

He also said the Constitution of India and the Supreme Court had greatly endowed the EC powers that made smooth and successful conduct of polls possible.

However, over the years, the problems related to conducting free and fair elections had increased with money and muscle power raising their heads.

Quraishi said booth capturing days are over and expressed the hope that it would not come back again.

"Political class respects our institution....the 10 pm deadline for canvassing is adhered to not because of any law, but because of the model code of conduct that the parties have imposed upon themselves....That's the kind of compliance we have," he said.

He also lauded former CEC TN Seshan saying his contribution to the EC was "singular" and had "made the institution visible" to the people.