Calcutta High Court asks the State Election Commission to report on the EVM and VVPAT shortage before municipal polls
12 October 2026
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, with Justice Om Narayan Rai, sought a report from the West Bengal State Election Commission on the shortage of EVMs and VVPATs. The Commission must also file an affidavit on whether polling data from EVMs and VVPATs can be stored separately on hard disks, and whether that is legally permissible. The first phase is expected to cover seven civic bodies: Kolkata, Howrah, Bally, Haldia, Dhupguri, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Polling is tentatively expected towards the end of November.
In plain words
VVPAT Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail — A machine that shows a printed slip so a voter can check the vote cast.
SEC State Election Commission — The body that conducts panchayat and municipal elections in a State.