Bombay High Court Grants Permission to Inspect EVMs: Which Parts of the Machines Will Be Examined?

EVM Diagnostic Check: In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has ordered a diagnostic check of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Following this order, specific components of the machines—including the Control Unit—will undergo inspection.

EVM Diagnostic Check: The Bombay High Court recently delivered a major verdict, directing that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) be subjected to a thorough examination. The Court issued this ruling while hearing a petition filed by Congress leader Naseem Khan. According to reports, this marks the first instance where EVMs will be inspected *after* the conclusion of an election. Following the verdict, Archana Kadam, the Deputy Returning Officer for the Mumbai Suburban District, announced that the diagnostic check of the EVMs would be conducted in Mumbai on April 16 and 17. Let us explore who will conduct this diagnostic check and which specific components will be examined during the process.

Who Will Conduct the EVM Diagnostic Check?

The inspection of the EVMs will be carried out by engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The Bengaluru-based BEL is the manufacturer responsible for producing these EVMs. During the diagnostic check scheduled for April 16 and 17, Congress leader Naseem Khan—accompanied by an expert appointed on his behalf—will be present alongside election officials. Khan has been granted permission to inspect and verify the 'burnt memory' and the microcontroller of the machines. He stated that he has received authorization to inspect 5 percent of the machines utilized in his legislative assembly constituency during the elections; this translates to the inspection of approximately 20 machines.

Which Parts Will Be Examined During the EVM Diagnostic Check?

The diagnostic check will focus on specific components of the EVM. Foremost among these is the Control Unit. This unit serves as the repository for all stored data and governs the entire polling process. It is this unit that displays the total number of votes cast and the final election results. By pressing a specific sequence of buttons on this unit, one can access comprehensive details regarding the entire polling process. Additionally, the Ballot Unit will also be subjected to inspection. The Ballot Unit is a relatively simple voting interface; it features the list of candidates contesting the election. Voters are required to press the button corresponding to the candidate of their choice from among the options provided. The diagnostic check will also involve an examination of the VVPAT—or Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail. The VVPAT is a device that prints a paper slip for verification purposes.

How will the checking be conducted?

According to reports, during the inspection, engineers from the EVM manufacturing company will conduct a technical audit of the machine's microcontroller. This process aims to ascertain whether any unauthorized modifications have been made to the machine. Subsequently, the machine performs a self-diagnostic check, after which the remainder of the inspection is completed.