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The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on May 17 to address a petition related to the Lok Sabha elections. It’s filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The petition urged the immediate disclosure of absolute voter turnout numbers by the Election Commission.
This move by the SC, related to the Lok Sabha elections, has come up as a big development. It came after a delay in the publication of critical data pertaining to the initial phases of the elections.
The ADR, a non-governmental organization, sought an urgent hearing on the matter. It was subsequently listed before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.
The petition was filed in response to the Election Commission’s delay in releasing comprehensive voter turnout statistics for the first two phases of polling.
On April 30, the Election Commission disclosed the final voter turnout percentages for these phases. It was 66.14% for the first phase and 66.71% for the second phase. However, the Commission did not provide the total number of voters in each constituency. This caused consternation among stakeholders.
The ADR petitioned the Supreme Court to direct the Election Commission to promptly publish the absolute figures of votes polled. This petition highlighted a significant disparity. It’s more than 5% between the final voter turnout figures and the preliminary data released on the polling day.
The petition underscored that the delayed release of final voter turnout data has led to concerns. It has also led to skepticism regarding data accuracy. Moreover, it’s coupled with notable revisions and the absence of disaggregated figures.
The ADR petition emphasized the importance of addressing public apprehensions to safeguard voter confidence. It sought a directive from the Supreme Court mandating the Election Commission to upload detailed Form 17C (Part I) reports from all polling stations immediately following the conclusion of each election phase.
Form 17C (Part I) is crucial as it details the votes cast in favour of each candidate. Also, it’s worth noting that it is prepared by presiding officers.
The delay in releasing comprehensive data drew criticism from opposition parties. Leaders are questioning the Election Commission’s actions. The Commission responded by dismissing allegations of data discrepancy.
They affirmed that voter turnout data was readily accessible via the Voter Turnout App. It was made available to candidates’ agents on polling days for the Lok Sabha elections.
Moreover, the Election Commission clarified that it is not legally obligated to publish voter turnout data at an aggregate level for constituencies or phases. It emphasized that such data is recorded and distributed at the polling station level through Form 17C.
All in all, the Supreme Court is prepared to deliberate on this Lok Sabha elections matter. The petition by the ADR underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The outcome of the hearing will be pivotal in addressing concerns regarding the prompt and accurate disclosure of election data.
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