Supreme Court Advocates for Childcare and Feeding Rooms in Public Spaces

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Supreme Court Advocates for Childcare and Feeding Rooms in Public Spaces The Supreme Court of India has suggested that the Union Government develop a comprehensive policy addressing the construction of feeding rooms and childcare facilities  in public places. This move aims to ensure that nursing mothers and their children can access basic amenities in a dignified and private manner, reinforcing their fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution. SC Encourages Policy Formulation A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna  and Justice N Kotiswar Singh  highlighted the absence of a structured framework to address this pressing issue. The court advised the Centre to propose a policy that could then be implemented across the states, scheduling the next hearing for December 10, 2024.   The apex court emphasized that before issuing formal directions, it was crucial to understand the Centre’s perspective on implementing the petitioner’s demand for childcare and feedi...
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Ensuring Electoral Integrity: Supreme Court Seeks Clarity on EVM-VVPAT Verification

Ensuring Electoral Integrity: Supreme Court Seeks Clarity on EVM-VVPAT Verification



Supreme Court Seeks Clarification on EVM Verification:


The Supreme Court recently sought clarification from Election Commission of India (ECI) officials regarding pleas seeking 100% verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. This move comes in response to a batch of petitions aiming for comprehensive cross-verification of EVM votes with VVPAT records.


Queries Raised by the Bench:


During the hearing, the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta posed several questions to an ECI official regarding the functionality of EVMs, particularly inquiring whether the microcontrollers embedded in them are reprogrammable. The bench sought clarity on the placement of microcontrollers, whether in the controlling unit or the VVPAT, and whether the flash memory of these microcontrollers can be reprogrammed.


Official Response and Court's Position:


The official response indicated that each unit of the EVM system, including the ballot units, VVPAT, and chips, contains its own microcontroller housed within a secured module, and these microcontrollers are one-time programmable. Additionally, the court expressed its willingness to consider issuing directives to enhance the EVM system's security, reaffirming its commitment to modern voting methods while ruling out a return to traditional ballot paper voting.


Petitions Advocating for Voter Verifiability:


The petitions before the court advocate for more extensive verification of EVM data against VVPAT records, emphasizing the need for voters to verify that their votes have been accurately "counted as recorded." Presently, VVPAT slips from five randomly selected EVMs in each Assembly segment are verified. However, the petitioners argue that there is a legal void concerning the verification of whether votes have been counted accurately, which is essential for ensuring voter confidence in the electoral process.


Importance of Legal Clarity and Procedural Safeguard:


The plea highlights the importance of voter verifiability and calls for a clear procedure to enable voters to confirm that their votes have been accurately counted. While the current system allows voters to verify that their votes have been recorded through the displayed VVPAT slips, there remains a lack of protocol for verifying that these recorded votes have been counted accurately, underscoring the need for legal clarity and procedural safeguards.


Initiation of Dialogue and Stakeholders' Expectations:


In response to these concerns, the Supreme Court has initiated a dialogue with ECI officials to address these issues and explore potential measures to strengthen the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.


Conclusion:


The court's engagement in this matter underscores the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring the fairness and accuracy of elections, thereby safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens to free and fair participation in the democratic process. As the legal proceedings continue, stakeholders await further developments that may shape the future of electoral practices and safeguards in India.

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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