Common Elections 2024: Grave Lapses in Election Safety | Proof Unveiled
In a collection of disturbing revelations, the integrity of the current common elections has come underneath intense scrutiny. Footage completely accessed by The Probe exposes a surprising degree of negligence and protocol breaches surrounding the dealing with and transportation of Digital Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Path (VVPAT) machines.
One significantly alarming scene reveals a VVPAT machine getting used as a makeshift chair. Regardless of producers’ assurances of their sturdiness, these machines are more and more malfunctioning, exposing a troubling actuality of their mistreatment.
One other disturbing picture depicts an deserted EVM left beneath a tree, a transparent violation of the strict protocols designed to safeguard these essential units. Such neglect not solely breaches established procedures but in addition raises critical issues concerning the safety and reliability of our electoral system.
One other footage reveals polling events transporting EVMs with surprising carelessness. In lots of instances, the outer covers of VVPAT machines are visibly broken and inadequately secured throughout transportation. This alarming casualness may jeopardise the complete electoral course of, with potential injury to the machines and even their disappearance.
The unsettling footage was accessed by senior lawyer Mehmood Pracha, who contested the elections from Rampur Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Following the elections held on April 19, Pracha requested complete videography and CCTV footage associated to the electoral course of from the District Election Officer. His efforts to acquire footage from numerous components of the nation are ongoing, however the Rampur footage has already unveiled vital lapses.
One significantly troubling clip reveals an open truck, used for transporting EVMs and VVPAT machines, which starkly contrasts with the Election Fee of India’s (ECI) guide necessities. In accordance with the ECI’s pointers, such machines ought to be transported in containerised or sealed vans with correct locking mechanisms. As a substitute, the footage reveals an open truck, missing a roof and coated with sheets which might be visibly torn, offering insufficient safety for the delicate tools.
Mehmood Pracha, who supplied this footage, expresses his frustration: “My complete train has been to reveal that the ECI has lied to the Supreme Court docket and to the world about their adherence to protocols. They declare rigorous adherence makes EVMs secure, not as a result of machines themselves however due to their protocols. We purpose to disclose that this can be a blatant lie.”
Pracha additional talks concerning the Image Loading Unit, a facet of the election course of that has not been disclosed in full element to the general public. “That is the primary time individuals are seeing this, and it’s absent from the Election Fee’s guide,” Pracha notes.
Common Elections 2024: Unveiling Flaws in Election Tools Dealing with
A Nearer Have a look at the Image Loading Unit
The Image Loading Unit (SLU) is a crucial gadget used to add candidate names and symbols onto VVPAT machines. Voters are conversant in the three items on the polling sales space—the EVM management unit, the poll unit, and the VVPAT printer—however the SLU, whereas not used throughout voting, is important for making ready the VVPAT machines with the important candidate info. The right storage and transportation of the SLU are essential to making sure a easy electoral course of.
The footage supplied by the ECI reveals Mehmood Pracha participating in a dialog with a BEL engineer who was liable for aiding Election Fee officers in Rampur. The engineer’s duties included commissioning the voting machines and loading symbols into the VVPAT machines utilizing the SLU. Pracha seeks detailed insights into the SLU’s features and operations.
Mehmood Pracha: “Now inform me, what is that this gadget?”
BEL Engineer: “SLU. Image Loading Unit.”
Mehmood Pracha: “So this unit accommodates the symbols.”
BEL Engineer: “Sure.”
Mehmood Pracha: “The place did this SLU come from?”
BEL Engineer: “Moradabad.”
Mehmood Pracha: “It was pre-loaded. Who loaded it and supplied it to you?”
BEL Engineer: “The ECI.”
Mehmood Pracha: “The Election Fee of India loaded and supplied this to you?”
BEL Engineer: (nods in affirmation)
Mehmood Pracha: “The place and the way was it handed over to you?”
BEL Engineer: “From Moradabad.”
Mehmood Pracha: “However the symbols weren’t loaded in entrance of you, appropriate?”
BEL Engineer: “No, it was already loaded.”
Mehmood Pracha: “You acquired it already pre-loaded?”
BEL Engineer: “Sure.”
Mehmood Pracha: “Was it sealed? You’ve introduced the SLU in an opened situation. Was it sealed when it was handed over to you from Moradabad?”
BEL Engineer: “It got here in a field.”
Mehmood Pracha: “However it arrived open, proper? Present me the field. I have to see the field. The SLU additionally doesn’t have any seal, proper? You anticipate me to consider it got here from Moradabad simply since you say so, appropriate? Present me the field.”
BEL Engineer: “That is the field.”
Mehmood Pracha: “This field has no seal. It’s clearly unsealed. Anybody may open and shut it simply. That is how the Image Loading Unit is being transported—unsealed and accessible.”
The footage and testimonies reveal crucial flaws within the dealing with and transportation of election tools, undermining confidence within the electoral course of’s safety. The failure to stick to established protocols exposes the dire want for stringent measures to make sure the integrity of our democratic programs.
Common Elections 2024: Secrecy and Negligence
Why is the Image Loading Unit arriving in unsealed packing containers? Regardless of the Election Fee of India offering fundamental details about the SLU on its web site, complete particulars concerning the SLU guide—from its manufacture to deployment—stay elusive. RTI interventions led by activist Venkatesh Nayak of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) have sought this info from Bharat Electronics Restricted (BEL) and Electronics Company of India Restricted (ECIL), however requests have been denied.
The ECI’s response to RTI queries has been lower than clear. When requested for particulars concerning the SLU from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, ECIL invoked Sections 8(1)(a) and eight(1)(d) of the RTI Act of 2005. Part 8(1)(a) protects info that might hurt nationwide safety or strategic pursuits, whereas Part 8(1)(d) covers business secrets and techniques that might have an effect on aggressive enterprise pursuits. This raises questions: why is there such secrecy surrounding the SLU guide and fundamental info? Should not this crucial info be made accessible to the general public?
The dearth of reference materials for monitoring SLU protocols implies that engineers’ actions go unchecked, elevating issues about potential tampering and defects. With the EVMs and VVPATs—already identified to endure from defects—there’s a legitimate concern that SLUs may also be susceptible to related points. Given the historical past of issues with EVMs and VVPATs, assuming the SLUs are flawless is unrealistic. Subsequently, larger transparency from the Election Fee of India is important.
Latest visuals illustrate additional lapses in election tools dealing with. Polling events are seen engaged in dialog, leaving EVM and VVPAT machines utterly unguarded. The ECI should make clear whether or not such lax safety is suitable in the course of the transportation of those crucial machines.
That aside, CCTV footage dated February 28, 2024—one and a half months earlier than polling—reveals people accessing sturdy rooms underneath unclear circumstances. These gaps elevate issues about potential irregularities or improper conduct, though we’re not suggesting wrongdoing however reasonably highlighting the necessity for sturdy oversight.
Mehmood Pracha expressed his issues concerning the gaps within the footage, stating: “Regardless of rules requiring full videography and CCTV footage, the recordings supplied have vital gaps, together with lacking footage from essential areas like strongrooms. This incomplete documentation raises critical questions concerning the oversight and safety of the machines throughout crucial durations. The Rampur Returning Officer claimed that the strongroom in query was used for publicity and coaching, however this contradicts authorized provisions for taking out EVM and VVPAT machines for coaching functions. The dearth of steady CCTV protection and unexplained gaps counsel attainable unauthorised entry or tampering.”
Common Elections 2024: Open Sealing of EVM’s Submit Polls
In a troubling video captured by Pracha, people are seen sealing EVMs and VVPAT machines in an open space, allegedly after the polls on April 19. In accordance with the Election Fee of India’s Handbook on Digital Voting Machines, these machines ought to be sealed instantly after polling inside the polling station itself. The footage raises vital questions: is it permissible to deal with machine sealing exterior the polling station, and what are these people really doing with the machines in an open space?
Pracha, expresses deep issues: “After the votes are supposedly captured in these machines, they’re introduced again to be saved securely for counting about one and a half months later. The sealing ought to have been executed within the polling sales space, within the presence of polling brokers. Bringing the machines in unsealed situations, touring lengthy distances, after which sealing them as a formality questions the sanctity of the election course of.”
This footage, representing only one constituency, exposes the broader concern of election protocol adherence. It raises fears about what might need transpired in different constituencies with much less oversight.
Do you know that any citizen can entry CCTV and video footage associated to election conduct? In accordance with the Handbook for Returning Officers, 2023 by the Election Fee of India, candidates can get hold of copies of information/data without cost if they’re candidates, or pay Rs.300 per CD/storage gadget for others.
Regardless of these guidelines, responses Pracha acquired range broadly. Whereas some District Election Officers (DEOs) have complied and have determined to offer footage, others have denied entry citing non-existent guidelines.
There are inconsistencies in responses associated to knowledge sharing and the pricing for a similar. As an illustration, the Deputy Commissioner of Mysore estimates a price of ₹1 lakh for 35 TB of information, whereas officers in Shimla quote ₹58,200. Extra alarmingly, officers in Balasore, Odisha, demand an exorbitant ₹12,77,100 with out offering an in depth justification for the associated fee.
“If Mr. Rajiv Kumar can present that even 10 % of the Election Fee’s protocols have been adopted, I’ll publicly apologise and stop my advocacy in opposition to EVMs. If he can not reveal this in even one constituency, he ought to be ashamed. The footage we’ve seen is from a constituency intently monitored by a vigilant candidate, however actual issues lie in areas with much less oversight,” states Pracha.
The persistence of protocol violations, regardless of the intensive measures of CCTV and videography, highlights a crucial concern: implementing programs alone doesn’t assure electoral integrity. Complete coaching for officers and rigorous post-election evaluations are important. Adhering to established protocols is essential for sustaining the integrity of our elections and restoring public confidence within the electoral course of.
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