The Hindu : Kerala News : Probe sought into removal of names

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 20, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Probe sought into removal of names

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has sought an inquiry into the removal of 24 lakh voters in Kerala from the electoral rolls.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, released for publication here on Sunday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the fall in the number of voters had taken place at a time when the strength of the electorate should have increased in tune with the increase in population and fall in mortality rates. In 2000, 2,32,66,478 voters had exercise their franchise in the local body elections. However, in the electoral rolls published for the 2005 local body polls, the number has come down to 2,08,46,617 voters, he pointed out.

Mr. Achuthanandan said there should have been an average increase of 1.5 lakh voters in the State after removal of names of the dead and those who have relocated themselves to other places and alleged that names of voters were removed from the rolls without observing the norms laid down under the Representation of People Act. Under the norms, a person's name could be removed only for clear reasons and after observing a set procedure. The person concerned should be issued a notice and reply obtained. When the names of the dead are removed, the relatives should be informed.

Mass deletions from the electoral rolls had been effected in 2001without observing these procedures. The same has been done in the 2005 rolls. The sharpest fall in the number of voters is in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Around 12 lakh applications from those seeking to be included in the electoral rolls were also pending with taluk offices.

There must be a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances that led to such mass deletions and steps to include all eligible persons in the electoral rolls, the Opposition leader said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala