Karnataka orders inquiry into bulk voter deletion applications

Karnataka’s chief electoral officer has ordered inquiries into bulk applications seeking to delete names from voter rolls and directed officials to take legal action against applicants found to have knowingly made false declarations. The order followed complaints by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and a protest outside the election office; the allegations that applications were fraudulent or targeted eligible voters have not been established by the inquiry findings provided in the reports. Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar said his office had received reports of bulk Form 7 filings and that some were alleged to be non-genuine. He directed Electoral Registration Officers to investigate and act under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, if they find that an applicant knowingly made a false statement or declaration. The action must follow an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Officials have also been told not to accept bulk applications as a routine exercise, according to one account of the directions. Form 7 is used to object to entries on electoral rolls, including to seek deletion of a name on specified grounds.