A data researcher who sought copies of CCTV footage of EVM strongrooms was in for a shock after the Election Commission asked him to pay ₹10.78 lakh per Parliamentary constituency.
The researcher, Srinivas Kodali, had made a representation before the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) seeking the footage for archival purposes.
While he wrote to the CEO’s office, it transferred the representation to District Election Officer, who, as per rules, sought ₹50 per CD/ DVD. Given the massive size of data, the total amount was worked up to ₹10.78 lakh.
First appeal filed
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Kodali said he filed a first appeal with the CEO: “The RTI Act provides that if the appellant is not satisfied with the response, he can go for an appeal. I have exercised that right.”
He said that Election Commission of India (ECI) stipulations pertaining to ‘storage and supply of CCTV recordings’ available on the ECI website prescribe that stages of election processes such as nomination, scrutiny, polling and counting processes, etc. can be deleted upon the expiry of the 45-day period.
‘Make recording public’
“There were lots of complaints of EVM tampering or manipulation. I asked for the footage because if the ECI does not archive it, then somebody should. The ECI should actually make the recording public so as to dispel notions of EVM misuse,” Mr Kodali said.
While the researcher sought copies of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri constituencies, a response from Medchal–Malkajgiri District Election Officer was received.
The size of data capturing CCTV footage for each of the seven Assembly segments of Malkajgiri Parliamentary constituency for a period of 44 days is approximately 12,040 GB and requires 21,560 DVDs.