SIR: No inquiry yet into bulk Form-7 submissions targeting minority voters

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.

“So far, no such inquiry has been initiated, and it is left to the ERO to decide when to begin one, if an inquiry is needed. Once it is initiated, the timeline for a response is seven days,” the CEO, addressing the media on Monday (October 5), said. 

Between June 16 and October 4, 91,278 Form-7 applications have been received by the CEO’s office. However, when asked if the figure included bulk Form-7 applications submitted across various constituencies such as Babaleshwar, Bhalki and Belagavi, the CEO said, “It may be included, while some may be rejected. We don’t have those break-up figures. But none of the voters are deleted, and none of the deletions will happen just based on receiving an objection via Form-7. A notice will be delivered, and a hearing will be conducted, and only following this will the deletion happen, if need be.” 

When questioned if submitting bulk applications was valid, he maintained it needed to be “examined” and depended on the ERO. 

The number of Form-7 applications has significantly increased post the claims and objections period. Between June 16, when the electoral rolls were frozen ahead of the SIR, and September 24, the number stood at 61,130. As of October 1, the number had increased to 84,990, and by October 4, the applications stood at 91,278. During the same period, as of October 4, 9.10 lakh Form-6 applications for inclusion in the rolls and over 11.98 lakh Form-8 applications for corrections have been received. 

Meanwhile, maintaining the recent instructions given by the ECI, Mr. Kumar said that a special drive would be conducted after the SIR is over to include eligible voters, with discussions in this regard already held with DEOs and political parties.