Election Commission Tightens Noose on Pilibhit Voter List Lapses

The Election Commission has announced stringent measures to address lapses in the voter list of the 127-Pilibhit Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The Commission's instructions, issued to the state's Chief Electoral Officer in Lucknow, come after it reviewed a report linked to a letter from the CEO's office.

The most significant step is the immediate suspension of two Electoral Registration Officers, Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary. The Commission has ordered that their charge sheets be sent to it for detailed examination. It has also made clear that the officers cannot be restored to duty without its prior approval.

Further, the Commission has ordered that Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, be included in the existing FIRs against the two officers and VRC computer operator Nil Kumar. It has stressed that the matters must be prosecuted earnestly before the relevant court so they reach a conclusive end.

To speed up the review, the District Election Officer of Pilibhit has been asked to submit, within seven days, a report on the voter lists of all four Assembly constituencies in the district, carrying the CEO's specific comments. Information on the action taken against the VRC operator, and on the role of five Assistant Electoral Registration Officers of 127-Pilibhit, must reach the Commission within three days.

The Commission has also widened the scope of the exercise. All District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers across Uttar Pradesh have been told to closely re-check voter lists in their areas, with focus on data entries arising from additions, deletions and amendments through Forms 6, 7 and 8.

The directive was signed by Under Secretary Deepmala, and a copy has been forwarded to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh for information and necessary follow-up.