District Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, on March 25 conducted the scheduled quarterly physical verification of the EVM/VVPAT warehouse at Kurbathang, in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.

The warehouse was opened at around 2:00 PM in the presence of designated officers, representatives of political parties, and other concerned officials. The inspection was carried out under strict protocol to ensure transparency and adherence to prescribed norms.

Officials present during the inspection included the Executive Engineer, PDD; Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) Treasury; Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP); personnel from Fire and Emergency Services; representatives from the Election Cell; and representatives of recognized political parties.

During the inspection, the warehouse seal was opened under proper video recording, and the status of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT units was physically verified. Upon completion, the warehouse was securely sealed again, and the keys were handed over to the Treasury Officer for safe custody, as per established guidelines.

The DEO emphasized that such periodic inspections are mandatory to ensure the safety, security, and integrity of election equipment. All procedures were duly recorded in the logbook, and security arrangements were maintained throughout the process.

The inspection was conducted smoothly, maintaining full transparency and strict compliance with the Election Commission’s instructions.

The quarterly inspection is a routine and mandatory exercise conducted in the presence of political party representatives during both the opening and sealing of the warehouse to ensure accountability and adherence to electoral norms.