EC orders recheck of TN electoral rolls

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered re-scrutiny and thorough field verification of claims and objections received by the Tamil Nadu election department on the enrollment of voters in the ongoing summary revision of rolls.

Applications without signature or thumb impression of the voter and proper full address would be summarily rejected. The rolls prepared in 165 Assembly constituencies, not affected by the tsunami, would come under the EC’s scanner, and the final rolls would be published only after getting the EC’s nod.

The Commission has given time till June 20 for the political parties to file their objections over the claim applications/objections received by the Electoral Registration Authority (ERO) in each constituency.

Not only the state election department teams, but also the EC officials from New Delhi would cross-check the genuineness of the voters with regard to their age, address and eligibility.

Stringent action as per law will be taken against officials found guilty of dereliction of duty, Commission’s secretary Tapas Kumar, who toured Tamil Nadu along with its legal advisor S. K. Mendiratta, said in a press release.

The Commission said all the EROs must dispose of the applications for claims and objections in every constituency by July 15.

It also ordered the EROs to file FIRs with the police against the office-bearers of the political party which has given names of bogus voters for inclusion in the rolls.

Issuing a stern warning to the supervisory staff who will be re-scrutinising at least 40 percent of the applications, the Commission said such exercise should not be done in any particular area or locality. ‘‘Under no circumstances the supervisory staff will seek assistance of influential persons or those with political lineage of the locality.’’

If at all any assistance is required, it should be sought from immediate neighbours of the persons to be verified.

In doubtful cases and in the case of applicants not found at the residence at the time of verification, the EROs should, as provided in the Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers published by the Election Commission of India (1993), send a notice to the applicant (in Forms 12 to 15) to appear in person before him or AERO at a place near his/her residence which can be decided in advance to deal with such cases.

The applicants must be asked to bring the relevant documents. The enquiry by the EROs can be held in taluk and zonal offices on appointed dates for the convenience of the public, the release said.

EC must stick to rules, says AIADMK

CHENNAI: Lashing out at the Election Commission for sending two of its officials to some constituencies in the state to verify the bulk applications for inclusion of voters, the ruling AIADMK urged the EC to keep itself aloof from the ‘‘motivated attempts on the part of Opposition parties’’ to malign the AIADMK.