3 hrs ago
BLOs Hesitate to Accept Form-7 Applications Amid Misuse Allegations
Form-7 is a form used to object to someone being on the voter list.
In Hyderabad, officials and booth-level officers reportedly became cautious about accepting many forms at once.
This followed reports that objections were filed against people in a Muslim family in Musheerabad.
Some political representatives allege that many forms were prepared to remove eligible voters.
Election officials say bulk applications must be checked carefully and decided in writing.
Advocate Neha Amreen has asked for voters to receive notice and a chance to respond.
During the voter-list review, about 65 lakh people completed hearings.
Around 54 lakh of them were included in the final voter lists as eligible.
About three lakh notices were still pending.
Thousands of pre-printed Form-7 applications were reportedly held back in Hyderabad after objections against a Muslim family in Musheerabad drew attention.
Officials said bulk applications must be investigated and verified, with a reasoned written order issued.
Congress representatives alleged that large numbers of applications were being held up, including a claimed 70,000 forms in one constituency.
Advocate Neha Amreen urged officials to follow safeguards, including checking objectors’ eligibility and giving affected voters notice and a chance to respond.
About 54 lakh of the 65 lakh voters who completed hearings were included as eligible in the final rolls; around three lakh notices remained pending.
- Who
- Booth-level officers and election officials; Congress representatives and advocate Neha Amreen raised concerns about Form-7 applications.
- What
- Pre-printed Form-7 applications were reportedly held back amid allegations of attempted misuse to remove eligible voters.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, including the Musheerabad, Bahadurpura and Goshamahal Assembly constituencies.
- When
- During the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; no specific date was stated.
- Why
- Concerns arose after objections were reportedly filed against members of a Muslim family in Musheerabad and allegations followed that Form-7 applications could be misused.
Misuse concerns
Official procedures
Bulk Form-7 applications
Misuse concerns
Congress representatives and other complainants alleged that bulk applications could be used to seek deletion of genuine voters and said many forms had been held back.
Official procedures
An official said bulk applications must be properly investigated and verified, with a written, reasoned order; the article does not report an official response to the specific allegations.
Action over alleged false applications
Misuse concerns
Mohammed Ali Shabbir urged the Telangana government to order stringent action, including FIRs, and said similar complaints had led to FIRs and an inquiry in Karnataka.
Official procedures
The article reports that election authorities require verification and due process for objections, but does not provide a response from the Telangana government to Shabbir’s request.
Key facts
- Form-7 submissions in Telangana
- Close to 30,000 applications had officially been submitted.
- Pending revision notices
- About three lakh notices remained pending.
- Completed hearings
- Around 65 lakh voters completed the hearing process.
- Included in final rolls
- About 54 lakh voters were included as eligible.
- Claimed forms in one constituency
- Congress committee chairman Pulipati Rajesh Kumar alleged that 70,000 forms were held by a BJP constituency incharge; the article does not independently verify the claim.
- Safeguards urged
- Amreen called for scrutiny, verification, notice to affected voters, a chance to respond, and a reasoned decision.
Quotes
Pulipati Rajesh Kumar
Chairman of the PCC Election Commission coordination committee.
“Proper protocols should be adopted to ensure SIR remains a genuine exercise. If a Form-7 application is filed, a preliminary scrutiny followed by steps, including verification of objector’s eligibility, verification of stated ground, notice to concerned elector, opportunity to submit response or evidence, BLO or ERO verification wherever required, reasoned order by competent authority and appeal or review remedy as applicable should be followed.”
deccanchronicle.com
“BLOs are reluctant to accept forms, forcing the plans of such submissions deferred. It came to light that in one of the Assembly constituencies in Hyderabad alone, there are 70,000 forms with the BJP’s constituency incharge, which are held up now.”
deccanchronicle.com
Senior election official
An election official commenting on the handling of bulk Form-7 applications.
“If at all, Form-7 applications are received in bulk, say from a political party, they have to be properly inquired into and verified, and speaking order and a typed order have to be given.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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