SC asks EC to probe bulk Form 7 applications in UP SIR, submit action-taken report

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine complaints of irregularities in the submission of bulk Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The poll panel has been asked to take corrective measures wherever necessary and submit an action-taken report.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana asked the petitioners to provide details of cases in which alleged irregularities had not been addressed. It directed the ECI to scrutinise the complaints and take appropriate action wherever violations were established.

During the hearing, the petitioners alleged that a large number of Form 7 applications had been submitted in Uttar Pradesh with the intention of removing voters belonging to a particular community from the electoral rolls. They pointed to action taken in similar cases in Telangana and Karnataka, where directions for the registration of FIRs had been issued, and argued that the lack of effective action in Uttar Pradesh had encouraged those responsible for filing such applications.

Appearing for the ECI, senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu submitted that although the authorities had received a large number of Form 7 applications, scrutiny had revealed irregularities in the submissions. He maintained that no voter's name had been deleted on the basis of these forms.

Naidu further told the court that the concerned officials had examined the complaints through checks and cross-verification, following which some allegations were found to be false.

He added that where allegations were supported by evidence, the concerned parties could file formal complaints for the ECI to examine and take appropriate action.

After considering the submissions, the Supreme Court said the poll panel should scrutinise the relevant material and act wherever irregularities were established.

UP CEO's Office Rejects Claims Over 85,854 Form 7 Applications

The proceedings come amid allegations of irregularities in the SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stblzr rejected claims that kbx RSL'e RZCSSK oekhmssc had automatically generated 85,854 Tnvw 7 vqjilvzklaov without specifying reasons for deleting voters' names.

The CEO's office maintained that the deletion process involved notices, hearings, scrutiny and recorded orders. It dismissed the allegations as misleading, asserting that lb taiixmnk the prescribed procedures dahexr ketluq any deletion action.

(With IANS inputs)