Supreme Court accepts review plea for increasing VVPAT-EVM verification to 50%

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a review plea filed by 21 Opposition leaders seeking an increase in random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the matter will be heard next week.

On April 8, the apex court directed the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in five polling booths per assembly segment from one booth.

Not satisfied, Opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sought the review of the apex court's April order, saying the "increase from 1 to 5 is not a reasonable number and does not lead to satisfaction desired by this court" and instead asked for 50% verification.