Chandigarh, May 21 (PTI) The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been dispatched from Rajasthan to Punjab for the May 26 local body elections in the state.
The information was given during the hearing of a petition, challenging the Punjab State Election Commission’s decision of holding the elections for municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats through ballot papers.
Polling for 104 municipal bodies including eight municipal corporations in Punjab will be held on May 26. The counting of votes will take place on May 29.
During the hearing on Thursday, the EC’s counsel informed the court that EVMs have been dispatched from Jaipur on the morning of May 21 and shall be handed over to the Punjab State Election Commission (SEC) at Mohali (SAS Nagar) or at Chandigarh tonight.
According to an affidavit of the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, the SEC is required to furnish to the EC the details of point of delivery as well as the particulars of the concerned officials authorised to take possession of the EVMs.
It is incumbent upon the SEC to furnish the requisite particulars including the details of the officer(s) authorized to receive and collect the said EVM machines, along with all other relevant logistical and administrative details, the EC informed the high court.
In a letter dated May 20 and addressed to the chief electoral officers of Punjab and Rajasthan, the EC approved the allocation of 6,300 BU (ballot unit) and 5,980 CU (control unit) EVMs.
On receipt in Punjab, these shall be provided to the State Election Commission, Punjab by the CEO Punjab, read the affidavit.
The contention of the SEC recorded in the order dated May 19 to the effect that the EC had expressed non-availability of EVM machines is factually incorrect, it was submitted.
It was also submitted that the EC undertakes to facilitate the first level checking and commissioning of the EVMs in order to have the elections conducted on time and according to schedule.
Advocate Prateek Gupta, representing the EC, said the bench has reserved the order.
During a hearing on Wednesday, the EC had informed the high court that EVMs could be provided within 2-3 days for the polls.
Petitioner Ruchita Garg, a Mohali resident, had moved the high court, challenging the SEC’s decision of conducting the May 26 local body polls through ballot papers.
The SEC had earlier told the high court that the local body polls were being conducted through ballot papers as the EC failed to provide EVMs according to the schedule decided by it.
The state counsel had opposed the petition on the grounds of maintainability. PTI CHS ZMN
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