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Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Election Commission seeks proof from existing electors, its officer said enrolment has clear safeguards
When the Election Commission (EC) announced a 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls on June 24, it cited the need to ensure that all electors on the revised roll meet the eligibility criteria of age and citizenship — including those who were added after 2003, the year the last intensive revision was undertaken in the state. But barely a year earlier, when the question of alleged illegal immigrants became a flashpoint during the Assembly elections in neighbouring Jharkhand, the poll panel's top official in the state had defended the EC's 'elaborate provisions' for preparing electoral rolls — particularly those relating to citizenship. Incidentally, the last intensive revision in Jharkhand was also conducted in 2003, the same year as Bihar. In fact, in an affidavit filed in the Jharkhand High Court on September 3, 2024, in a case involving alleged illegal immigrants obtaining identity documents, including Voter ID cards, the state's Chief Electoral Officer, K Ravi Kumar, cited the EC's instructions on the routine preparation and revision of electoral rolls to argue that the Commission had established 'clear safeguards' to prevent the enrolment of ineligible persons. However, in the same affidavit, the Jharkhand CEO also underlined the limits of an Electoral Registration Officer's (ERO's) powers to question or initiate an inquiry into an individual's citizenship — especially 'in the absence of any credible allegation and the existence of legitimate government-issued documents.' The affidavit said that in case of any doubt regarding an applicant's citizenship, the ERO could consult the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before making a decision, and in case of an objection filed in the form of Form 7, the burden of proof initially lay with the objector. The High Court was hearing a case filed by Danyaal Danish, a Jharkhand resident and BJP worker, who sought action against alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh. In August 2024, the court had asked the Union and State government entities concerned to file affidavits on the steps taken to deal with the issue. The CEO's affidavit provided a detailed explanation of the processes followed by EROs, while underlining that it is the Union government, through the MHA, that can determine citizenship. '…it is respectfully submitted that the Election Commission of India has formulated elaborate provisions regarding entry of names during preparation of electoral roll, and deletion of names on objection or doubt about their citizenship have been incorporated in the election laws and manual,' the affidavit said. The CEO said the Commission had established 'clear safeguards' to prevent enrolment of ineligible persons as per its Manual on Electoral Roll, 2023. According to this manual, the ERO has to satisfy himself or herself that an applicant is an Indian citizen. On the documents that the ERO can rely on, the manual says, though there is no standard and uniform document, an illustrative list of documents that 'could' be referred to comprises 'National Register of Citizens, wherever it exists, citizenship certificate issued by a competent authority, a valid passport issued by Government of India and birth certificate.' The affidavit further said that in case of any doubt, the ERO should refer the matter to the MHA to determine as per the Citizenship Act. In case of an objection to an elector on the rolls, it has to be filed in a Form 7. 'In case of an objection filed in Form 7 seeking deletion of name from the electoral roll on the ground that the person objected to is not a citizen of India, the onus of proof shall initially lie on the objector. This is a shifting burden of proof…Therefore, the Electoral Registration Officer would justifiably require the person concerned, to show evidence that he is a citizen of India,' the affidavit said. Importantly, the affidavit said: 'In the absence of any credible allegation and the existence of legitimate government-issued documents, the ERO's authority to question or initiate enquiry into an individual's citizenship becomes restricted…Further, should there be any reason to suspect that any of the certificates produced by the applicant is bogus or issued without due care, the ERO is instructed, as per paragraph 7.4.1. of Chapter 7 of the Manual on Electoral Rolls to [refer to] the authorities that issued that certificate. This is another effective mechanism prescribed for dealing with the issue of illegal migration.' In this case, the CEO said, the petitioner had not filed any Form 7, and in case any were filed in the future, the ERO would take appropriate action after due inquiry. The affidavit, however, did mention that the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj had received a complaint on August 27, 2024, from Kartik Kumar Saha, former BJP district president, alleging that 71 electors who had EPIC cards were allegedly Bangladeshis and therefore ineligible to be on the rolls. When reached for comment on the complaint, the Jharkhand CEO declined to comment, saying the matter was sub-judice. The District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj, Hemant Sati, said an inquiry had been conducted into the allegations levelled against the 71 electors and the report submitted to the court. He said all the electors concerned had been living in the state for 30-40 years and were found to have valid government documents like Aadhaar cards. Many had even availed benefits of government schemes like PM Awas Yojana. While hearing the petition last year, the High Court had asked the Deputy Commissioners of six districts — Godda, Jamtara, Pakur, Dumka, Sahibganj and Deoghar — where 'majority of infiltrators' were reported, to submit affidavits giving details of such individuals 'after going through their Aadhaar Cards, Voter Cards and by comparing with the Record of Rights to establish their residency in the area which falls under the Santhal Pargana region', as per a September 20, 2024 order. Barring Sahibganj, all DCs disputed the allegation that illegal immigrants were present in their districts. The court had then asked the state and Union governments to form a fact-finding committee, which was challenged by the Jharkhand government in the Supreme Court. The matter is pending in both the Supreme Court and the High Court. As per the EC's June 24 order, all 7.8 crore existing electors in Bihar must fill out enumeration forms by July 25 to be included in the draft roll, which is scheduled for publication on August 1. In addition, voters who were added to the rolls after January 1, 2003 — the year of the last intensive revision — are required to submit documents to establish their eligibility, including proof of citizenship. Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns that the exercise could disenfranchise genuine electors. The EC's decision to conduct the SIR has been challenged through multiple petitions in the Supreme Court, which has asked the Commission to file its response by July 21. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Civic body cracks down on unlicensed eateries in Rjnr
Rangareddy: Stepping up their drive against illegal establishments operating without proper permissions, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials in Rajendranagar today ordered the closure of several eateries found to be running businesses without a trade licence. On Wednesday, a team of GHMC officials, led by Deputy Commissioner K Ravi Kumar, visited a tiffin centre at Attapur junction. After inquiries about its permissions yielded no satisfactory answers, the shop was promptly shut down by the officials. 'Upon receiving no satisfactory answer to our queries regarding a trade licence and other permissions, we immediately closed the tiffin centre,' stated K Ravi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner GHMC Rajendranagar. The Deputy Commissioner added that, besides the tiffin centre, they discovered that the footpath at the same location had been encroached upon by a pan-shop. Vehicles parked in front of these establishments were also significantly disrupting traffic flow. GHMC officials issued a stern warning to all businesses operating without a trade licence, emphasising that such offences would lead to strict action, including both penalties and sentences under the GHMC Act. However, GHMC officials did not disclose the total number of illegal establishments identified in Rajendranagar that are currently operating without proper licences and other permissions. Meanwhile, numerous complaints are flooding in from various areas concerning footpath encroachments and the parking of heavy vehicles in the narrow streets of residential colonies within the Attapur area. Hawkers, including fruit and vegetable vendors, have been observed encroaching on footpaths, obstructing easy passage on both sides of the main road at the bustling Attapur junction. Residents within the colonies are also complaining about transport vehicles being parked on already narrowed public roads in residential areas. Furthermore, several multi-storey buildings are being constructed without any provision for parking space, which, once occupied, is expected to exacerbate parking issues. Anil Kumar explained the growing inconvenience faced by residents in several colonies due to regular traffic congestion in Attapur, noting, 'Encroachments on footpaths by food courts and other eateries, along with vehicles parked on roads, are leading to regular traffic congestion in the Attapur area.' He also highlighted that the construction of multi-storey buildings without parking provisions is compounding the problem, creating a 'messy and unwholesome situation.' Mohd Kareem, a resident of Khaja Nagar in Attapur, said, 'Several owners have rented out their buildings for commercial establishments like event management units and other suppliers in Khaja Nagar, leading to frequent road blockades inside the residential area.' He further stated that the daily entry of heavy vehicles and their parking for hours on already narrowed colony roads are resulting in regular traffic congestion and even disputes among the colony inhabitants.
Hans India
22-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Not lifting piled-up garbage on time irks even GHMC babus
Rangareddy: The delay in lifting the garbage emanating from different areas under Rajendranagar circle is not just causing annoyance for the locals but it now appears that the issue has even irked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials as well. The reports regarding tailed-off sanitary system in the south circle – given the rise of complaints like no proper sweeping and timely garbage lifting from many areas, has spurred the deputy commissioner K Ravi Kumar to make strict vigil during his visits to the areas early in the morning to take stock of the situation. It is learned that the deputy commissioner found many things appalling on the ground during the field visits that prompted him to take impromptu correctional measures against the unwholesome situation. Finding fault with the way the heaps of refuse left unattended, the Deputy Commissioner, GHMC Rajendranagar on Monday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Ramky, the contract company helming the task of treatment and disposal of legacy leachate. According to officials, the penalty was imposed on the contract agency for not lifting the garbage during night hours. It is said that Ramky Infrastructure entered into a contract with the GHMC for the treatment and disposal of legacy leachate. It is said that the Rs 250 crore BOO (Build, Operate, Own) contract has a two-year initial period with a potential 10-year extension. It is learned that the deputy commissioner was on a routine visit of the area when he found that the delay in garbage lifting in Shastripuram area under Rajendranagar is leading to piling up of refuse at the garbage vulnerable points, thereby polluting the ambiance. Miffed over the way the refuse is being pulled up and not being lifted timely, the Deputy Commissioner imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Ramky and instructed the local officials to make impromptu arrangements to address the issue. However, the local people say that there is no element of plausibility in the approach. 'Throwing garbage in the open has already been revoked in the cosmopolitan city and outskirts after considerably debating it as an unhygienic approach and the same is replaced with door-to-door garbage collection mechanism,' contended Arif, a resident of Shastripuram. However, he said, the GHMC itself planted trash containers helping the people to dump the refuse into the containers instead of handing over the same to trash collection teams. A Anil, another resident, said, 'People, unwilling to pay the paltry monthly amount to trash collection teams, follow the old unhygienic practices, leading to unwholesome ambiance in colonies. The civic law mandating imposition of fine or penalties against unhygienic practices remains confined to the rule book'.
