The Supreme Court of India has decided to examine a plea regarding the use of biometric identification methods, specifically finger and iris scanning, at polling stations. This initiative aims to reduce instances of duplicate and fraudulent voting during elections. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi has issued notices to the central government, the Election Commission of India (ECI), and several state authorities, requesting their responses on the proposal.
While the court is open to considering the proposal, it has clarified that any biometric measures cannot be implemented during the ongoing state Assembly elections. The bench emphasized the need to assess whether such measures should be adopted prior to the next parliamentary and upcoming state assembly elections.
Details of the Petition
The petition, initiated by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, advocates for the establishment of biometric verification systems at polling booths. The aim is to mitigate electoral malpractices, including impersonation and duplicate voting. The argument presented in the petition highlights persistent issues such as bribery, undue influence, personation, and ghost voting, which compromise the integrity of the electoral process in India.
This legal development coincides with ongoing discussions regarding electoral reforms in the country. The Supreme Court’s willingness to consider the integration of technological solutions like biometric verification into India’s electoral framework may significantly impact future elections and the overall electoral integrity.
