ECI directs Telangana to act against fraudulent voter deletion forms

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued directives to Telangana state authorities to initiate appropriate action against persons responsible for submitting fraudulent Form 7s during the current Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Form 7, used for deletion of names from voter rolls, was being misused to remove eligible voters from the electoral register in what the ECI characterized as a violation of election protocols. The commission's intervention underscores ongoing concerns about the integrity of electoral processes during revision drives.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana was tasked with ensuring that state authorities take cognizable steps to address the matter. The directive reflects the ECI's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of electoral rolls and protecting citizens' voting rights.

Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a periodic exercise conducted across India to update voter registrations, correct discrepancies, and remove ineligible entries. The current revision in Telangana has now become the subject of scrutiny following allegations of systematic voter deletion through forged documentation.