The Hindu reported on 26 October that about 61,000 Form 7 applications in Karnataka, roughly one-third of all such forms in the State, were filed by poll officials themselves. None of them records a reason for deletion. The finding comes amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and an ongoing row over bulk Form 7 filings.
What Form 7 is:
It is the form used to object to the inclusion of a name or seek its deletion from the electoral roll.
Valid grounds include death, shifting of residence, duplicate entry and not being a citizen.
A form without a stated reason gives the voter nothing specific to answer at the hearing.
Background of the row:
Karnataka's SIR began on 16 June 2026. The State CEO's office reported 91,278 Form 7 applications by 4 October.
Bulk filings in some constituencies led to several FIRs, a dharna by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and counter-charges by the BJP.
The CEO has said no voter has been deleted merely because a Form 7 was filed.
A party's Booth Level Agent (BLA-2) may file only up to 10 Form 7s at a time and 50 during the whole SIR.
Prelims pointers
Form 6 = new enrolment. Form 6A = overseas (NRI) electors. Form 7 = objection or deletion. Form 8 = correction, shifting or replacement EPIC.
Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals with correction of entries in electoral rolls.
Section 31 of the RP Act, 1950 punishes false declarations in connection with rolls with imprisonment up to one year, or fine, or both.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are government officials. Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are appointed by political parties.
In ADR v. Union of India (May 2026), the Supreme Court upheld the Bihar SIR and stressed notice, inquiry, hearing and a reasoned order before deletion (Rule 21A, Registration of Electors Rules, 1960).
Mains angle
Deletion is the most sensitive part of roll revision, because a wrong deletion silently takes away the right to vote. When officials file objections without reasons, the burden shifts unfairly to voters. Safeguards needed:
A recorded reason and evidence on every Form 7.
Public, booth-wise lists of proposed deletions.
Personal notice and hearing before any deletion.
Action under Section 31 against false or bulk objections.
On 23 October, civil society groups, students and farmers' organisations marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi. They protested against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained more than 100 protesters.
Key Points: Demands of the protesters:
Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Withdrawal of the SIR.
Repeal of the 2023 law on appointing Election Commissioners.
Restoration of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
About the SIR:
It is an intensive exercise to verify and update electoral rolls.
It aims to remove duplicate, dead and shifted voters while including all eligible voters.
Critics point to wrongful deletions, heavy document requirements and weak procedural safeguards.
Prelims pointers
Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections, including preparation of electoral rolls, in the ECI.
Article 326 provides for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage.
Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 governs preparation and revision of rolls. Section 21(3) allows the ECI to order a special revision.
The CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 sets up a selection committee:
the Prime Minister (chair),
the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha,
a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023), the Supreme Court had set an interim committee of the PM, the LoP and the CJI until Parliament made a law.
Under Article 324(5), the CEC can be removed only in the manner of a Supreme Court judge. Election Commissioners can be removed only on the CEC's recommendation.
Section 163 of the BNSS replaces Section 144 of the CrPC. It allows Executive Magistrates to issue urgent orders in cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.
Mains angle
Accurate rolls prevent impersonation and duplicate voting, but wrongful deletions undermine universal adult franchise. The ECI's credibility depends on the safeguards around deletions:
Public lists of proposed deletions.
Notice and a hearing for affected voters.
Accessible claims and appeals.
Accountability of Booth Level Officers.
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Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has told the Supreme Court that the suspension of cellular internet within a 4 km radius of Raisina Hill, from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10, was a proportionate measure. Filed in a contempt case, the affidavit says Wi-Fi and broadband were unaffected and the shutdown followed a Delhi Police request. He tendered an unconditional apology and sought discharge of the contempt notice.
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