Bhatkal: Amid the ongoing debate over the alleged misuse of Form No. 7 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country, similar instances have surfaced in Bhatkal, which has a sizeable Muslim electorate, with attempts allegedly made to seek deletion of names of eligible voters, particularly Muslims.
According to sources, Form No. 7 applications were submitted before Booth Level Officers at several polling booths in Bhatkal and at booths in Murdeshwar, seeking deletion of names of eligible voters, particularly those belonging to the Muslim community, from the electoral rolls. Sources said a political party functionary in Murdeshwar had submitted an application in his own name seeking deletion of the names of 245 persons belonging to a minority community. However, SIR officials did not accept the application as the applicant had not furnished the required documents along with Form No. 7.
Similarly, several unidentified persons are said to have approached election officials at other polling booths in Bhatkal with hundreds of Form No. 7 applications. Officials reportedly suspected that a single person may have attempted to submit such a large number of applications and did not allow the applications to be formally registered.
The developments have triggered discussion in Bhatkal over who was behind the attempts and what their purpose was. Questions are also being raised locally over whether, as alleged in some other parts of the country and in Karnataka, the attempts were aimed at deleting minority and Muslim voters for a political purpose, or whether there was any other reason behind them.
In another instance, it has come to light that after a voter was served a notice following the deletion of his name from the electoral roll during the SIR process, a Bhatkal-based politician allegedly reached the authorities with a Form No. 7 application seeking deletion of the same voter's name even before the voter could appear for the hearing.
The alleged misuse of Form No. 7 has also triggered complaints and police cases in other parts of Karnataka. In Bhalki of Bidar district, a complaint was made regarding the alleged wrongful transfer or marking of 3,244 voters as absent. In Belagavi, an alleged attempt to delete the names of 198 minority voters was reported, while an FIR was registered in Mysuru in connection with the deletion of names of Muslim voters. In Malleswaram, Bengaluru, an FIR was also registered over the alleged submission of Form No. 7 applications seeking deletion of the names of 778 voters. In the Belthangady Assembly constituency of Dakshina Kannada, 279 Form No. 7 applications were reported from 16 polling booths, including 82 applications in Ujire reportedly seeking deletion of names of Muslim voters. Police and election authorities are investigating these cases.
Gujarat has also witnessed large-scale submission of Form No. 7 applications during the SIR. Around 14 lakh applications were received there, of which approximately 1.8 lakh were found valid after scrutiny.
Bhatkal Assistant Election Officer and Assistant Commissioner Mahesh said the relevant documents are verified while receiving Form No. 7 applications. He said there would be no scope for violations of the rules. Asked about the number of Form No. 7 applications received, he said information could be provided only regarding applications officially registered.
According to the Assistant Election Officer, a total of 87 Form No. 7 applications have been officially received and registered in Bhatkal taluk. Of these, 84 applications have been rejected, while action will be taken on the remaining three after hearings.
The last date for submitting Form No. 7 applications in connection with the electoral roll scheduled to be published on October 27 was September 23. However, the facility to file objections through Form No. 7 against names included in the subsequently published electoral roll remains available.
Form No. 7 is used to raise an objection to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll or to seek deletion of a voter's name. Any voter registered in the existing electoral roll of the concerned Assembly constituency can submit such an application. The applicant is required to indicate the reason why the person concerned is not eligible to remain on the electoral roll, including death, being underage, permanent migration, already being registered at another location, not being an Indian citizen, or any other applicable ground.
It may also be noted that under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, knowingly making a false written statement or declaration in connection with the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or the inclusion or exclusion of a name, constitutes an offence. The provision carries a punishment of up to one year in prison, or a fine, or both.