BANGALORE: The names of at least two advocates who are no more have been included in the electoral rolls of the Advocates' Association of Bangalore.

The names of Chithralekha Urs — an advocate who was murdered, allegedly by her cousin, Bharathi Urs, daughter of former Chief Minister D. Devraj Urs — and C.V.R. Swamy figure in the rolls of the association. The rolls were prepared by the association and handed over to the Returning Officer (RO), who is in charge of the elections to the association, which will be held in August.

There are 9,401 voters in the elections, all advocates in courts in Bangalore.

The name of Chithralekha, daughter of late Chandrakanth Raje Urs, former Judge of the Karnataka High Court, is mentioned at serial number 254 in the High Court voters' list. The names of 465 advocates are repeated in the list, it is learnt.

K.N. Putte Gowda, who is seeking election to the post of president, says he will point out the discrepancies in the voters' list. He says the defects have to be rectified or members may vote more than once.

Despite the Karnataka High Court ruling that no advocate enrolled in the association after September 25, 2005 is entitled to vote, the list includes names of the advocates who were enrolled recently.

At least six advocates who became members of the association between January 18 and January 31 this year figure in the voters' list.

C.R. Gopal Swamy, general secretary of the association, says these defects will be rectified once objections are received. "We want to ensure that the elections are fair."

Questions about the election process were raised following reports on "bogus members". The elections were stayed by a single judge, but the stay was vacated by a Division Bench of the High Court.

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