The court ordered that each candidate should press the button next to his name on an EVM more than 20 times to ensure that the device is functioning properly. This should be done in presence of all the candidates, their polling agents and the state Election Commission officials. Once tested, the EVMs can be used in the municipal elections on June 29.

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by the People’s Democratic Conference of India. The petition said that each EVM should be tested properly to prevent any possibility of tampering with the voting machines. It argued that pressing the button 20 times was not enough to inspect the EVM. The counsel for the petitioners argued that the Election Commission had appointed a three-member committee on the use of the EVMs, which had concluded that it was possible to tamper with the devices. The petitioners are contesting the upcoming municipal elections from Diamond Harbour and Burdwan Municipality.

Counsel of the SEC informed the court that the commission had decided that the button next to a candidate’s name should be pressed 100 times to inspect an EVM.