SIR: No inquiry yet into bulk Form-7 submissions targeting minority voters
Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer stated that no formal inquiries have been initiated regarding the bulk submission of Form-7 applications, which are used to challenge voter registrations. While concerns have been raised about these forms targeting minority communities, officials maintain that no deletions will occur without a formal hearing process.
Why it matters
The integrity of electoral rolls is a fundamental aspect of democratic processes, and the handling of mass objections is a point of significant public concern.
Amid a row where multiple cases have emerged where Form-7, used to file objections and seek deletion of names from the electoral rolls, have been filled in bulk, mostly targeting Muslim and minority communities, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbu Kumar said that “in none of the cases has an inquiry been initiated by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)”.
Directions have been given to all EROs to take action as per law against those who knowingly make false statements or declarations in writing while filling forms such as Form-7, preceded by an inquiry under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, following an over-five-hour-long protest by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on October 1.
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