Ranchi, September 3: Jharkhand election authorities have sought a report following complaints over the submission of multiple Form 7 applications seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls in parts of Godda district during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The issue came to light after Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) at several polling locations reportedly raised concerns over Form 7 applications submitted in large numbers by Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) associated with the BJP.According to reports, a significant number of the applications involved voters from the Muslim community.
The BLOs reportedly questioned the format and source of some applications and raised the matter with senior election officials.
The controversy has been reported from areas including Maheshtikri, Pachua Kita, Lochni and Baghakol.A BJP booth-level agent, Sanjeev Kumar, reportedly said that he had received a set of Form 7 applications from the party and submitted them to the concerned BLO as directed. He alleged that the BLO did not provide a receipt for the submissions.
Local election officials said they had received complaints regarding the bulk submissions. The Electoral Registration Officer concerned reportedly asked officials to examine the applications and verify the information supporting the objections.
Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said that BLAs are permitted to submit Form 7 applications in bulk. However, he said that the agents are required to provide a declaration confirming the accuracy of the information contained in the forms.
The CEO has sought a report from the District Election Officer to determine whether the prescribed requirements were followed in the disputed submissions.Form 7 is used to raise an objection to the inclusion of a person’s name in the electoral roll or to seek deletion in circumstances permitted under election rules.
Submission of such a form does not by itself result in the immediate removal of a voter. The objection is required to be examined by the competent election authority.The BJP has also approached the state election authorities, alleging that some BLOs failed to accept Form 7 applications submitted by its agents.
The party has claimed that voter lists in parts of the region contain duplicate entries and names of people who may be registered elsewhere.The dispute comes amid the wider SIR exercise in Jharkhand. The draft electoral rolls were published after the enumeration process, with more than 43 lakh names reportedly excluded from the earlier rolls.
Election authorities have extended the deadline for filing claims and objections to September 15, while the final revised electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 19.
The latest controversy has raised questions about the verification of deletion requests and the need to protect eligible voters while removing duplicate or otherwise ineligible entries.
The election authorities’ report is expected to clarify whether the disputed Form 7 applications complied with the prescribed procedure.
