ECI Suspends Two Pilibhit Officers Over Voter Roll Case

A computer operator entered 13,779 voter-change forms in Pilibhit, and 10,470 were approved, even though the office had no supporting forms or documents, an inquiry found. The Election Commission has ordered two officers linked to the case, Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary, suspended immediately and called for stronger court action. ^1,8

The Commission reviewed a report from Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer, then ordered the two Electoral Registration Officers suspended and barred from returning without its approval. It also told state officials to add Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to the existing FIR against the officers and computer operator Anil Kumar. The Commission wants officials to review the officers’ chargesheets and pursue the cases in court. ^1,4

The case has led to checks beyond Pilibhit. The Commission directed election officials across Uttar Pradesh to recheck voter-list changes made through Forms 6, 7 and 8, which are used to add, delete or change voter details. The state’s chief electoral officer separately ordered computer assistants’ ECINET login IDs disabled across the state after alleged misuse in Pilibhit. The disputed entries matter because voter lists determine who can vote, while officials continue to review the cause and full reach of the problems. ^1,8

The inquiry found that 3,309 of the 13,779 forms were rejected and 10,470 approved; officials said the office had no related applications or supporting papers. The District Election Officer in Pilibhit must report within one week on checks of voter lists in all four district constituencies. The chief electoral officer must provide an action report on the computer operator and details of five assistant registration officers’ roles within three days. ^2,8