Police remove NSUI members who protested in Bengaluru Tuesday, demanding resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The delegation alleged that the govt was using police to intimidate people, especially BJP workers and supporters, who had filed Form-7 objections. The memorandum states that the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, allow objections through Form-7 which are required to be examined by electoral registration officers (ERO) or assistant EROs. Decisions can also be challenged through the appellate mechanism under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. However, ECI’s 2023 Manual on Electoral Rolls states authorised officers should accept individual applications and that claims and objections presented in bulk by an individual or organisation should not be entertained. The delegation said filing a false objection was punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, but alleged police were invoking more serious offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including cheating, forgery, intimidation and breach of peace.
The delegation said the ERO/AERO must conduct an inquiry and give both the objector and the person whose name is under objection a hearing. A delegation comprising Union minister HD Kumaraswamy , opposition leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy submitted a memorandum to Gehlot at Lok Bhavan. It alleged that this amounted to bypassing the non-cognisable nature of the provision under election law.