Karnataka SIR: EC says it will take action against bulk applications to delete voters
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Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbu Kumar on Thursday said that legal action would be initiated against anyone found to be filing bulk Form 7 applications to remove voters during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
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The directive was issued after Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress legislators protested outside the election officer’s office.
On Tuesday, The Hindu reported that of the 4,000 applications filed to delete voters from Karnataka’s electoral rolls, a majority targeted Muslims. The newspaper report is based on data from Form 10, which consolidates details of Form 7 applications.
In a circular sent to district election officers and electoral registration officers in the state, Kumar said his office had received reports of bulk Form 7 applications being filed. The reports alleged that some applications were not genuine, said Kumar, directing officials to investigate the claims.
Shivakumar withdrew the protest after the announcement.
The chief minister stated electoral officials had been told to approve Form-7 applications only for deaths or duplicate entries.
Death claims must include a death certificate, while duplicate cases must include the second voter ID number in the remarks, the chief minister quoted Kumar as directing electoral officials.
The alleged irregularities
In two cases, The Hindu found already filled and printed Form 7s with names of voters whose deletion was being sought. Only the objectors’ names were...