Hyderabad, Oct. 5 (Maxim News) : Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudarshan Reddy has directed election officials to take strict legal action against those who submit voter registration and deletion applications using false information or declarations.
The directions come amid controversy over pre-printed Form-7 applications reported in parts of Hyderabad during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The applications have triggered allegations of attempts to remove eligible voters from the electoral list.
The CEO issued instructions to the GHMC Commissioner, district election officers and district collectors on Monday.
He directed officials to act against applicants who deliberately provide false information through Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8.
Officials must conduct preliminary inquiries into Form-7 applications and follow the prescribed procedure before taking action.
The CEO also instructed district authorities to inform political parties and electoral registration officers about the directions.
Telangana SIR: Pre-Printed Form-7 Applications Trigger Row
The controversy intensified after pre-printed Form-7 applications surfaced in Musheerabad and Bahadurpura constituencies in Greater Hyderabad.
Form-7 is used to object to the inclusion of a person’s name in the electoral roll or seek deletion of an existing entry.
The Congress alleged that some applications sought the deletion of Muslim voters’ names. In Musheerabad, the party alleged that applications targeted a Congress booth-level agent and more than 30 members of his family.
Another pre-printed application reportedly surfaced in Bahadurpura. These developments raised questions about how the forms were prepared and circulated before reaching booth-level officers.
The allegations have not, by themselves, established that any eligible voter was unlawfully removed.
Election officials have said bulk Form-7 applications require proper scrutiny and verification before any deletion can take place.
The issue has also prompted concerns about whether the applications were part of a coordinated effort.
Political leaders have called for a detailed investigation and legal action wherever violations are established.
The CEO’s latest directions emphasise that deliberately submitting false information during voter registration or electoral roll revision can attract action under the law.
The Election Commission’s prescribed procedures require verification before a voter’s name can be deleted.
Authorities must examine the applications and supporting information before deciding whether a deletion is justified.
The controversy comes as Telangana continues its SIR exercise.
Election officials face pressure to complete the revision while ensuring that eligible voters are not excluded through improper applications. (Maxim News)
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