1 week ago
Uttarakhand Congress Challenges Mass Form-7 Objections During SIR
The Congress party in Uttarakhand says many challenges are being made against people’s names on the voter list.
These challenges use Form-7, which can be used to ask for a voter’s name to be removed.
Congress says 262 people each filed more than 10 such challenges.
Together, they submitted several thousand requests.
The party says some real voters could lose their voting rights without proper evidence or notice.
It also questioned a computer system that looks for similar voter records.
Congress asked the national Election Commission to pause removals while the complaints are checked.
Senior leaders demonstrated outside the Commission and submitted a memorandum.
The state election officer has invited the party to a hearing in Dehradun.
Uttarakhand Congress leaders petitioned the Election Commission of India over allegedly large numbers of Form-7 objections during the state’s Special Intensive Revision.
The party said 262 individuals had each filed more than 10 objections, together submitting several thousand requests to delete electors.
Congress alleged that genuine voters were targeted without physical complaints, verifiable identities, credible grounds, or required statutory notice.
The party also questioned the mid-revision restart of a software-driven Demographically/Photo Similar Entries exercise.
Congress asked the Election Commission to suspend Form-7 disposals and deletions pending independent verification and an audit; Uttarakhand’s chief electoral officer called the party for a Friday hearing.
- Who
- Uttarakhand Congress leaders, led at the demonstration by Congress MP and Uttarakhand in-charge Kumari Selja, petitioned the Election Commission of India; the complaint concerns 262 frequent Form-7 objectors and election officials.
- What
- Congress alleged that bulk Form-7 objections seeking voter deletions were being filed and processed in violation of electoral-roll procedures during the Special Intensive Revision.
- Where
- The objections concern Uttarakhand’s Assembly constituencies; Congress leaders demonstrated and submitted their memorandum in New Delhi, while the hearing was scheduled in Dehradun.
- When
- The petition and demonstration took place on a Thursday; Form-10 data cited in the petition covered the period from draft publication through 6 August 2026, and a state-level hearing was scheduled for Friday.
- Why
- Congress said the process could wrongly disenfranchise genuine electors and sought verification of objectors, notice and hearings for affected voters, an audit, and a halt to deletions.
Congress’s allegations and demands
Election authorities’ reported response
Bulk objections
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress alleged that a small number of individuals filed extraordinarily large numbers of objections against genuine, verified electors and that the objections lacked adequate supporting evidence.
Election authorities’ reported response
The articles do not report a substantive response from the Election Commission of India to these allegations.
Due process for voters
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress said objectors’ identities and constituencies should be verified and that electors facing deletion must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard.
Election authorities’ reported response
The articles do not state how election authorities handled notices or hearings, but Uttarakhand’s chief electoral officer called Congress for a hearing in Dehradun.
Suspending deletions
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress demanded an immediate halt to Form-7 disposals and voter deletions until an independent verification and audit are completed.
Election authorities’ reported response
The articles do not say whether the Election Commission accepted or rejected the demand.
Key facts
- Process involved
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Uttarakhand
- Objection form
- Form-7 applications can seek objections to the inclusion or deletion of names from electoral rolls.
- Frequent objectors
- The petition said 262 individuals each filed more than 10 Form-7 objections.
- Scale alleged
- Those 262 individuals together filed several thousand objections seeking elector deletions.
- Procedural concerns
- Congress alleged that objections were processed without physical complaints, verifiable identities, credible grounds, or statutory notices to affected electors.
- Additional concern
- The party questioned the restart of a software-driven Demographically/Photo Similar Entries exercise during the SIR without a disclosed legal basis.
- Requested action
- Congress asked for Form-7 disposals and deletions to be halted pending independent verification and an audit.
- Scheduled response
- Uttarakhand’s chief electoral officer called the party for a hearing in Dehradun on Friday.
Quotes
Congress leaders from Uttarakhand
Congress party representatives from Uttarakhand filing a petition
“…We had been requesting an appointment for several days. Today, with great difficulty, two officials came out — that too, with permission…”
telegraphindia.com
“"a small number of individuals" were submitting Form‑7 objections”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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