SC Dismisses PIL Seeking Physical Ballot Voting, “What happens is, if you win the elections, EVMs are not tampered. When you lose elections, EVMs are tampered”

Today (November 26, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice PB Varale was hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed by evangelist Dr. K.A. Paul, seeking physical ballot voting in India. He also sought a direction to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates who are found guilty of disturbing money liquor and other inducements during elections for at least 5 years. The bench dismissed the PIL stating, “What happens is, if you win the elections, EVMs are not tampered. When you lose elections, EVMs are tampered.” During the proceedings, Dr. Paul, who appeared as petitioner-in-person, submitted “This PIL, I have filed after much prayer...” Justice Nath interrupted and said, “You have filed PILs earlier. How do you get such brilliant ideas?” To this, the petitioner replied, “I just arrived from the great success of the summit on Saturday. This PIL, we have about 180 retired IAS/IPS officers and judges who are supporting me...I am Global Peace President and I rescued 3,10,000 orphans and 40 lac widows. We have 5,000 widows in Delhi.”

Further, Justice Nath asked the reason behind his interest in the political arena, he replied, “This is not political. See, I have been to 155 countries and every country in the world, if you see has [ballot paper voting]. Every democracy in the world, if you see [has physical ballot paper]. Every country. 180 countries. Unless dictators, because they do not have elections. Like I have been to Russia with Putin, Syria with Assad and Liberia with Charles Taylor-got him out of prison. He is in prison now. His wife also attended the summit on Saturday. So, we are protecting democracy." He further argued that Article 14, Article 19, and Article 21 are violated. He pointed out that today is Constitution Day to which Justice Nath commented, “Very important day to hear this matter!” Dr. Paul argued, “he facts are very clear. Known to everyone but why there is no remedy? I have been there for 43 years in this humanitarian and political advisors to the Prime Ministers and Presidents of the world. Even the last 6 Chief Ministers and Prime Ministers here including the present Prime Minister have attended my summit. Even you will be surprised, 18 political parties on August 8, New Delhi's Le Meridian supported this prayer. What is the prayer? Let us follow the rest of the world. 180 of the 197 countries...”

Moreover, Justice Nath asked him if he did not wish for India to differ from the rest of the world. Dr. Paul replied, “Because there is corruption,” to which Justice Nath refuted. Dr. Paul said, “Election Commission announced this year in June that they have seized nine thousand crore, more than one billion dollars, cash and gold. What is the consequence?...I have already met last three Election Commissioners and provided the proof.” Justice Nath, after hearing Dr. Paul’s argument that let all the political parties file counter, remarked, “Political parties have no problem with this system. You have a problem.” Dr. Paul continued, “This recent election, I have seen mafia. I have been the police. Of course, just because I am respected by the police and others, they let me go. You might have heard, a PIL is filed in the Supreme Court by some including Mr. Swamy where the MLAs went inside and literally broke the EVMs because of the unbelievable corruption...So, this is beyond imagination..Take expert Elon Musk who attended our summit. He clearly stated in writing that EVMs can be tampered. Chandrababu Naidu, former CM in 2018 tweeted that EVMs can be tampered and now Jaggan Mohan Reddy, I have enclosed his tweets, that EVMs are tampered.”

The bench dismissed the PIL stating, “What happens is, if you win the elections, EVMs are not tampered. When you lose elections, EVMs are tampered. When Chandrababu Naidu lost, he said EVMs can be tampered. Now, this time, Jaggan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered." While hearing the matter, Dr. Paul also claimed that money is distributed during elections and listed an example of a businessman who gave 12 hundred crores to all 6 major parties including BJP and Congress. Justice Nath asked, “We never received money during elections. We have not received anything…”