Karnataka CEO Orders Legal Action Against Knowingly False Form 7 Filings After Shivakumar’s Protest
CEO V Anbukkumar directs EROs across 224 constituencies to investigate alleged false declarations before taking action
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar has directed Electoral Registration Officers across the state to take legal action against applicants who knowingly submit false declarations or objections in electoral roll forms during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.
The directive came after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar staged a protest outside the CEO’s office in Bengaluru over allegations of bulk filing of Form 7 applications seeking deletion of eligible voters from the electoral rolls.
According to the CEO’s circular, action can be taken under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 against applicants found to have knowingly made false statements or declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8. However, the circular specifies that an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 must be conducted before legal action is initiated.
The instructions have been issued to District Election Officers, Deputy Commissioners and EROs covering all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. The CEO’s office said it had received reports of bulk Form 7 applications and allegations that some of the applications were not genuine.
Shivakumar had alleged that pre printed Form 7 applications containing voter details were being submitted in large numbers to remove eligible voters during the SIR process. He alleged that minorities, Dalits and tribal communities were among those being targeted and accused BJP and JD(S) functionaries of involvement. These allegations have been rejected by the BJP, which has said that Form 7 is a legitimate mechanism for raising objections to entries in electoral rolls and that action should be based on evidence.
Shivakumar, accompanied by cabinet colleagues and Congress leaders, demanded an FIR and a time bound investigation into the alleged mass filing of Form 7 applications. He ended the protest after the CEO issued the directive on legal action and verification.
The controversy has also led to police complaints in different parts of Karnataka. Reports of alleged bulk Form 7 submissions have emerged from constituencies including Vijayapura, Bhalki, Belagavi, Mysuru and Mudigere.
The latest developments mean that complaints involving Form 7 applications will now be subject to verification, with legal proceedings to follow where officials establish that false declarations were knowingly made.