The verification process for 20 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in Mumbai’s Chandivali constituency has been halted after the Congress party raised objections to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) outlined for the diagnostic check. The inspection, which commenced on April 16, 2026, following a Bombay High Court order, was intended to address concerns raised by Congress candidate Naseem Khan regarding the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The Bombay High Court had, in February 2026, granted permission for a diagnostic check of the EVMs used in the Chandivali constituency, a decision hailed by some as a significant step towards transparency in the electoral process. The inspection, mandated to examine the burnt memory and microcontrollers of the machines, was scheduled to take place on April 16 and 17 at a warehouse of the Food Corporation of India in Borivali (East), Mumbai. Engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were slated to conduct the diagnostic checks.
Naseem Khan, who finished second in the Chandivali seat in the 2024 elections, had filed a petition in the High Court seeking a technical examination of the EVM-VVPAT machines. He had requested the examination of approximately 20 sets of machines out of the around 400 used in the constituency and deposited the prescribed fee of ₹9.44 lakh with the Election Commission. All candidates who contested from the Chandivali seat were invited to be present during the inspection to ensure transparency.
However, reports indicate that the verification process was stalled due to disagreements between the Congress party and election authorities over the specific SOPs to be followed. While the exact nature of the dispute over the SOPs has not been fully detailed, the Congress has previously voiced concerns about the transparency and reliability of EVMs, advocating for more robust scrutiny mechanisms.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has previously issued technical and administrative SOPs for the checking and verification of EVMs, including burnt memory checks. These procedures are often guided by Supreme Court directives, which have addressed issues such as the verification of microcontrollers and the cost associated with such checks. The Supreme Court, in an April 2024 verdict, directed the ECI to allow candidates who placed second or third to request verification of up to 5% of EVMs, subject to payment of fees.
The Election Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer in Maharashtra had clarified that while the Bombay High Court’s permission for the Chandivali EVM inspection was a specific judicial directive, similar verification processes had already been conducted for other candidates in the state between February and August 2025. These clarifications aimed to counter reports suggesting the Chandivali inspection was a first-of-its-kind event in Maharashtra, emphasizing adherence to established protocols for EVM verification.
The stalling of the EVM verification process in Chandivali highlights the ongoing debates and legal challenges surrounding the use of electronic voting machines in India. While the ECI maintains that EVMs are secure and tamper-proof, parties like the Congress continue to push for greater transparency and verification measures to uphold public trust in the electoral system.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
