"While the Commission completely rejects the contention regarding fallibility of the EVMs, it has now decided to go the extra distance by inviting all those who have expressed reservations about the machine to come and demonstrate the points made in their allegations," the EC said.

The Commission said the demonstration would be done from next week in the presence of a group of technical experts as well as engineers representing the EVM manufacturers.

The development comes against the backdrop of Supreme Court last week asking parties to approach the EC with their complaints. The apex court had made the observation while declining to entertain a PIL questioning the functioning of EVMs.

The EC noted that similar petitions have been filed before the Madras High Court, the Bombay High Court and the High Court of Madhya Pradesh [Images] (Jabalpur bench) pertaining to the possibility of tampering of EVMs.

"The EC remains entirely satisfied that EVMs cannot be tampered with. These are fully tamper-proof," the EC said in its press note.

Observing that so far no one has been able to demonstrate that EVMs could be tampered with or manipulated, the Commission said EVMs have served the country's elections well.

These machines, introduced after political, technical and administrative consultations since 1979, have helped prevent several electoral malpractices and resulted in more efficient conduct of elections, it said.

Recalling that judgements from various courts have upheld the use of EVMs and technical experts have endorsed the machines from time to time, the EC pointed out that Karnataka High Court had hailed the EVMs as a "national pride".

The EC said allegations have been made about the possibility of tampering with the machine during manufacturing or while operating them. Referring to the argument that some western countries have stopped using EVMs, the EC said unlike the machines used by other countries, which were based on operating system, "the software in the EVM chip is one-time programmable and is burnt into the chip at the time of manufacture."

"Nothing can be written on the chip after manufacture. The EVM in India is a fully stand-alone machine without being part of any network and with no provision for any input," it said.

Besides, the EC said elaborate administrative measures and procedural checks were in place to make the EVM "doubly safe against any possible tampering or misuse".

At the same time, the Commission was fully alive to its onerous responsibility not to allow even a "small shade of doubt" about any aspects of its operation, it said.

The EC hoped that the demonstration would "once and for all set at rest any misgiving anywhere, in the interest of the country's electoral democracy."

Main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party [Images] had earlier asked the EC to ensure that the machines were tamper-proof before putting them to use in the coming assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana.

Questioning the functioning of the EVMs, BJP leader L K Advani [Images] had suggested re-introduction of ballot papers and his demand was backed by Communist Party of India-Marxist, Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [Images], Rashtriya Janata Dl, Janata Dal-Secular, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Lok Janashakti Party.

CPI-M [Images] had said the reports about functioning of EVMs should be considered "very seriously", especially as many countries, including developed ones, have reverted to ballot papers.