Use of EVMs: SEC asked to file response

CUTTACK: Treating a letter petition filed by one Lokapriya Kunjabihari Rout of the Peasants and Labourers Party of India, the Division Bench of the Orissa High Court, comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra, issued notice to the State Election Commission to file response within two weeks. Rout, who hails from Chamapati Padmapur of Cuttack district, had sent the letter appealing for directions for withdrawal of EVMs from the voting system. As most of the voters were illiterate, introduction of EVMs without proper training of the voters on usage of the device was improper. There was a possibility of tampering with the machines before as well as after the elections. The petitioner submitted that there should be proper awareness among voters on use of EVMs and only after that should the system be used for General Elections and all other polls.