Election Commission Cracks Down on Improper Deletion of Names During Special Electoral Roll Revision in Uttar Pradesh
The Election Commission of India has taken a firm stand following complaints by political parties alleging wrongful deletion of names during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh.
Citing existing rules, the Commission has clearly stated that the process for deleting a voter’s name cannot be misused or carried out in bulk by any individual.
Clarifying the procedure, the Commission said that an individual can submit only one Form-7 on his or her own behalf to seek deletion of a voter’s name.
No person is permitted to collect Form-7 applications from multiple individuals and submit them together in their own name.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, even if a single individual collects Form-7 applications from others and sends them by post, such submissions will not be accepted.
He emphasised that no voter’s name can be removed merely based on a false or frivolous complaint.
Only a person whose own name already exists in the electoral roll is eligible to submit Form-7 seeking the deletion of another name.
Moreover, the objector filling Form-7 must provide complete personal details, including their full name, Voter Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number, and mobile number.
Notices Mandatory for Both Sides
Under the rules, a notice must be issued not only to the voter whose name is sought to be deleted, but also to the person who has filed Form-7.
Both parties are required to be heard before any decision is taken, ensuring due process and preventing arbitrary deletions.
Family Members Allowed in Genuine Cases
The Commission clarified that family members are permitted to submit Form-7 in cases where a person has passed away prematurely or has permanently shifted to another location.
If multiple such cases exist within the same family, more than one Form-7 may be submitted, provided each form is justified and genuine.
FIR in Case of False Complaints
In a strong deterrent against misuse, the Commission warned that if a Form-7 application is found to be false after verification, an FIR can be lodged against the complainant. Such cases may attract criminal action for voter fraud, and complaints can be registered at the police station concerned.
Data Tells a Different Story
Despite political parties alleging large-scale misuse of Form-7 to delete voters’ names, official data from the Election Commission presents a contrasting picture.
Political parties together have 5.79 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) across the state, yet only 1,627 Form-7 applications have been submitted so far by them.
A party-wise breakup shows:
- Bharatiya Janata Party: 1,566 forms
- Samajwadi Party: 47 forms
- Aam Aadmi Party: 8 forms
- Bahujan Samaj Party: 6 forms
The Commission said these figures clearly indicate that there has been no mass-scale filing of deletion requests, contrary to allegations being made in the political arena.
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