The Hindu : Transfers against norms, say EC officials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Transfers against norms, say EC officials

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD DEC. 22. A team of Election Commission officials today expressed displeasure over the transfer of officials involved in the summary revision of electoral rolls after November 27. It termed the measure as "going against norms" and decided to report the matter to the Commission.

The team commenced the verification of electoral rolls in different districts after a meeting with the recognised political parties. At the meeting the Opposition accused the Government of being "lenient" to the Telugu Desam Party for enrolling "bogus votes." The parties, especially the Congress, alleged that as many as 123 officials who were the ground-level registration officers for inclusion/deletion, had been transferred and several manipulations were indulged in for facilitating the TDP.

When reporters raised these issues at a press conference later, the Election Commission officials, led by K. J. Rao said the transfer of the officials involved in rolls work without the Commission's permission, after the notification was issued for summary revision on November 27, amounted to violation of the Code of Conduct and they would report the matter to the Commission for prompt action.

Enquiries with officials showed that the Government obtained permission only in the case of shifting Rajeshwar Tiwari as Hyderabad Collector.

Mr. Rao and Anand Kumar, Principal Secretary in the commission, held the total electorate in Andhra Pradesh at 5.49 crores and the 51.69 lakh applications received under the present summary revision seeking voting right as "high," raising doubts. The 5.49 crore figure itself had taken the electorate percentage against total population to a high of 72.5 compared to the national average of 65-68.

It would go up further if the fresh applicants were also enrolled.

Referring to the specific complaint from a former MP of the TDPrecommending as many as 300 names for inclusion, they said that the plea was rejected.

They affirmed that those recommending names with false details would be punished with fine and imprisonment.

The forms meant for inclusion should contain only authorised signatures from political parties, district unit president or general secretary.

They said the existing electoral rolls included 1.21 crores of "residual voters" who enrolled themselves but failed to take photographs.

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