Bulk Form 7 applications seeking removal of voters, mostly Muslims, have been filed in several Karnataka constituencies. The Hindu reported that some forms had voters’ details printed in advance while objectors’ names were handwritten.
The reported filings have emerged amid a special revision of electoral rolls in the state. Form 7 is used to object to a person’s inclusion on a roll or to seek removal of a registered voter.
Karnataka’s chief electoral officer said that, as of October 6, no names had been deleted while the applications were being processed. He said every request is subject to verification and filing the form does not itself remove a person from the roll.
Officials said complaints about bulk submissions would be handled under the law. The Hindu reported that in several applications the details of the voters being challenged had already been printed, while the objectors’ names were handwritten.