Should ECI take action against those filing forms for mass deletions? | In Focus Podcast
This podcast episode discusses the surge in Form 7 applications for electoral roll deletions in India, which have raised concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement. Experts analyze the legal requirements for Electoral Registration Officers and the need for systemic reform.
Why it matters
The integrity of electoral rolls is fundamental to democratic processes, and mass deletion allegations pose a significant threat to voter rights.
As Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls Phase 3 unfolds, a surge in Form 7 applications, the mechanism for seeking deletion of names, in Karnataka has raised an alarm. More than 4,000 such forms were filed in the state, with 1,363 in one place coming from just ten electors, many reportedly targeting Muslim names. Uttarakhand has seen objections filed in an ERO’s name without his knowledge, while in earlier phase 2 in West Bengal, data shows nearly 90% of Form 7 applications were accepted.
Similar cases have been reported by The Hindu from Rajasthan and Gujarat earlier. What does the law require of the Electoral Registration Officer, and why is it Section 31 of RPA Act rarely invoked?
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