SC Updates : Kejriwal gets “supreme” relief in the defamation case; a petition to appeal the EVM-VVPAT ruling has been filed.

By – Prakarsh Kastwar

Supreme Court Update : The Supreme Court granted a hold on the trial court proceedings against Arvind Kejriwal in the harassment case. On the other hand, a petition has been filed in the EVM VVPAT issue, requesting a review of the Supreme Court’s April 26 ruling.

The Supreme Court has granted relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case involving the retweeting of a video critical of the BJP IT Cell. The Supreme Court issued the stay on trial court proceedings against Kejriwal.

A court-filed petition to review the EVM-VVPAT ruling

A petition has been filed with the Supreme Court for a review of the April 26 ruling. Let us inform you that on April 26, the Supreme Court issued its decision on EVM-VVPAT. The decision denied applications for 100% matching of EVM votes with VVPAT slips. The judges consisting of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta stated that indiscriminately criticizing any system can cast suspicion on any system. Arun Kumar Aggarwal filed a petition seeking a review of the Supreme Court’s ruling. Aggarwal had filed a suit on behalf of the public in this case.

What the Supreme Court declared in its decision :

While rejecting demands for 100 percent matching of EVM votes with VVPAT slips, the bench stated that “blindly doubting any system can create doubt about that system.” Democracy is about sustaining unity and trust among all of its pillars. We can increase our democratic voice by fostering a culture of trust and cooperation.

The court had issued these instructions.

The court further ordered that the candidates in second and third place be probed on written demand. This demand may be made within seven days of the announcement of election results. The candidate who requests the inquiry will cover the expense, and if the accusation of EVM manipulation is proven genuine, the Election Commission will be required to refund the fee to the candidate.