Eci Rti Reply Regarding Evms

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ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi -110001. F.No. 4/RTI/89 /2007 /JS.II7:3<';'

Dated: 5th April, 2007

To

~

Harikumar P,

V;~iia~hadka, Kasaragod, Kerala- 671551

Subject:

The Right to Information Act, 2005- regarding.

Please refer to your application dated 27.02.07 on the subject cited. The item-wise information requested by you is as follows:I. M/s Bharat Electronics Limited, Nagavara, Outer Ring Road, Bangalore, Karnataka and M/s Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad, Andhara Pradesh, are

-Government

of India Undertakings have been authorized to manufacture and supply

Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) to the Commission. 2. The cost of 1989-90 models of EVM (excluding battery) was Rs.; 4900/- per machine (ex-factory price). The cost of transportation and transit insurance were extra. The cost of EVMs (excluding battery) supplied from the year 2000-2001 onward is Rs. 8670/- each excluding Excise, Sales Tax and freight. The tentative cost of EVM for the current supply ( for the financial year 2006-07) is Rs. 8670/- each excluding Excise, Sales Tax and freight etc., however, the final cost will be decided by the Cost & Account Branch of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. 3. The Commission has purchased around 13.3 lakh ofEVMs so far. 4. Around 25/26 so far. The EVMs which are returned due to technical defect were replaced by the manufacturer. Number of EVMs abandoned are very few that were physically damaged due to violence etc. during poll. 5. The machine is both Mechanically and Electronically protected to prevent any Tampering! Manipulation! Alternation of the Program Code and Polled Data. A. Sealing:a. Sealing done by Returning Officer prior to polling day:

r Thread seal for the door of 'candidate set' compartment and separate seal for Power Pack compartment. b.

)

Sealing done by Presiding Officer prior to polling on polling day:

1.

Green Paper Seal for result section.

ii.

Thread seal for inner door of result section.

111.

Thread seal for bottom compartment.

iv.

Outer paper seal for the Result compartment.

B.

Safety feature:

a.

Micro controller used in EVM has a One Time Programme Read Only Memory (OTPROM).

Programme Codes are

fused in this OTPROM permanently. Programme Codes ones written and fused in this OTPROM cannot be Read Back or cannot be Altered by anybody including the Manufactures.

b.

PCB consists of Micro - controller Integrated Circuit Device with the Main Program Codes permanently fused into the Device manufactured.

Copies of test repon. of Shri P.V. Indiresan Committee regarding the Electronic Voting Machines conducted by the Commission can be obtained by depositing document charges @ Rs. 2/- per page. The document ru~to 43 pages. 6. No Special Handbook has been published by the Commission regarding maintenance and usage of EVMs. However, Handbooks for the Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Candidates, Counting Agents, Polling Agents, published by the Commission for elections

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where EVMs are used are available which can be obtained on payment basis. Price list is attached.

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Yours

fad!?

(S.R.KAR) UNDER SECRETARY & PUBLIC INFORMAnON OFFICER

RTI Matter/Most Immediate From HARIKUMAR P Pallathadka 671551, Kasaragod, Kerala

To Shri S.R. Kar, Under Secretary (Judicial) & CPIO, Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001.

Sub: Request for Information under Right to Information Act 2005.

I Harikumar P, Citizen of India seek the following information from your kind authority under the Right to Information Act 2005.

Information Required: 1. Authenticated List and addresses of Authorized & Recognized Manufacturers of Electronic Voting Machines in the country. 2. Cost borne by the Hon’ble Election Commission of India per Electronic Voting Machine. 3. Total Number Electronic Machines purchased till date. 4. No. of Electronic Voting Machines reported to be abandoned or returned due to manufacturing defect or damage. 5. Details of safety features of Electronic Voting Machines. Is it fully tamper proof? Kindly Provide copies of documents & reports regarding same. Also provide authenticated copies of all the test reports of the Electronic Voting Machine, if conducted by the Hon’ble ECI. 6. Copy of all the Handbooks published by the ECI regarding maintenance and usage of Electronic Voting Machines. So I kindly request your authority to provide me with the requested information as early as possible. An Application Fee is hereby submitted.

Thanking you & Waiting for your kind and early reply.

Place: Pallathadka

yours faithfully,

Date: 27/02/2007

[Harikumar P]

Name & Address: HARIKUMAR P, PALLATHADKA 671551, KASARAGOD, KERALA