Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd Refuse to Disclose EVM and VVPAT Component Details
Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), both public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Defence, have refused to disclose the names and contact details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Activist Venkatesh Nayak filed identical RTI applications with ECIL and BEL, seeking details of the manufacturers and suppliers of components used in assembling EVMs and VVPATs. Both PSUs cited "commercial confidence" as the reason for withholding the information.
Nayak also requested copies of purchase orders for the components. ECIL claimed the information was "voluminous" and would disproportionately divert resources, while also stating that disclosing the details would reveal design details of EVM components, potentially posing a danger to the machines.
Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act exempts information that would harm the competitive position of a third party from disclosure, unless the competent authority deems public interest to outweigh such concerns. Section 7(9) allows withholding information if providing it would disproportionately divert resources or harm the safety or preservation of records.
Nayak expressed concern over the secrecy surrounding EVM and VVPAT components, questioning whose interests are being protected over the right to information of nearly a billion voters. He argued that the PSUs' refusal to disclose details suggests they are not manufacturing all components internally, raising questions about the transparency of the electoral process.
Nayak emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in ensuring public trust in the electoral system. He urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to address these concerns and provide clear and verifiable information about the components used in EVMs and VVPATs.