The Hindu : New Delhi News : Question mark over 10 lakh new applications for addition to voter list

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Monday, Jul 07, 2008
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Question mark over 10 lakh new applications for addition to voter list

Staff Reporter

Election office says ‘not justifiable’, 30 per cent of them do not exist

More than 40 lakh names were added to the list earlier after door-to-door verification
‘No demographic explanation of such a huge receipt of form No.6 within a period of 2 weeks’

NEW DELHI: The Office of Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi that is presently engaged in the delimitation of Assembly constituencies and preparation of photo electoral rolls for all the 70 newly-delimited Assembly constituencies has now encountered another challenge. It has witnessed an unexpected submission of over 10 lakh applications on Form 6 for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls.

Stating that in view of the intensive revision exercise that concluded on March 14, 2008, in all the 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi, the receipt of more than 10 lakh applications on Form No.6 was “not justifiable”, the office has stated that in the earlier door-to-door verification and on the basis of disposal of claims and objections, more than 40 lakh names were added to the list.

“Therefore, there is no demographic explanation of such a huge receipt of form No.6 within a period of two weeks.”

Verification teams

However, in view of the receipt of such a large number of applications for addition of names in the electoral rolls, the CEO office had sent out teams to verify the contents of form No.6. In their first visit, it said, the teams found that more than 30 per cent of cases investigated were non-existent.

FIRs registered

In view of this alarming finding, the EROs (SDMs/ADMs) of the concerned Assembly constituencies have got first information reports registered against these applicants with the Delhi police. The Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, has also called the citizen of Delhi to ensure that they are registered in the electoral rolls only at one place, as required under Section 17 and Section 18 of Representation of People Act 1950.

The registration of name at more than one place, intentionally, is punishable with fine or sentence or both.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, Satbir Silas Bedi said “as far as delimitation is concerned the maps are ready and final verification is going on”.

It was also informed that the draft of the electoral rolls is to be finalised by August 1, 2008.

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