The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer has issued an order to take action against persons misusing Form 7, which is used for objecting or deleting names from the electoral roll. Similar allegations have been made in other states where voter roll revision is underway.
On Monday, the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy took a stern stand against the misuse of Form 7 during the special intensive revision (SIR). According to The Indian Express, Reddy directed officials to take action against individuals who submit bulk applications for the deletion of eligible voters using this form. This decision came following a complaint by the Telangana Congress’ electoral office, which alleged that certain booth-level agents were abusing Form 7 for this purpose.
The Indian Express also reported that similar allegations have been made in other states where voter roll revision is ongoing. The misuse of Form 7 is a concern because it can potentially impact the electoral process by removing eligible voters from the rolls.
In his order, Reddy stated that he had received reports about instances of filing bulk applications in Form 7 before the Electoral Registration Officers, and that these forms were not authentic. He also asked officials to take action against applicants who knowingly make false statements or declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7, and 8.
Form 6 is used for new voters to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll, while Form 6A is used by overseas Indian voters for the same purpose. Form 8 is used for requests related to corrections, changes of residence, or replacement of an elector’s photo identity card.
Since June 2025, the SIR has faced questions about its implementation and pace due to concerns that it could deny genuine electors their right to vote and influence election outcomes.
Source:
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