SC Asks EC to Examine Allegations of Bulk Form 7 Filings in UP SIR
The petitioner's counsel contended that in one constituency, 32 forms were submitted to target members of one particular community
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of (EC) to examine allegations of irregularities involving the bulk submission of Form 7 applications during the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Uttar Pradesh and take necessary corrective steps.
Form 7 is used to seek the deletion of a voter's name from the electoral roll. The court was hearing petitions filed by Congress MP Tanuj Punia and others challenging the conduct of the SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana directed the petitioners to submit a note detailing unresolved irregularities to the poll panel, PTI reported.
“The irregularities which have been brought to the notice of the court shall be submitted to senior counsel appearing for the Election Commission of India by way of a note. On receipt thereof, let the Election Commission examine the factual aspects, thereafter take necessary corrective steps and file a compliance report,” the court directed.
Senior advocate D.S. Naidu, appearing for the EC, acknowledged that bulk Form 7 applications had been submitted but maintained that no action had been taken on them. “We found that bulk Form 7 applications had been submitted. Our officers checked and cross-checked them. They were false, and we have not acted upon them,” Naidu told the court.
Counsel for one of the petitioners alleged that 32 applications had been submitted in a single constituency to target voters belonging to a particular community. The bench asked the EC to examine the allegation and take appropriate action.