Karnal, October . District Election Officer Dr. Anand Kumar Sharma stated that the Election Commission of India has set a limit on the number of Form-7 applications that can be submitted to object to inclusion or removal of names from voter lists. According to instructions issued by the Commission, this decision has been taken to prevent the tendency of individuals to file large numbers of objections without solid grounds and to protect voters from unnecessary inconvenience.
As per the Commission’s directives, a voter can submit a maximum of 10 Form-7 applications during the claims and objections period. However, during the continuous updating of voter lists, a voter can submit a maximum of 5 Form-7 applications per month. These limits apply to applications submitted both online and offline.
The instructions clarify that, as per Rule 13(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, only a person whose name is already listed in the electoral roll for the relevant Assembly constituency can submit a Form 7 application. It is mandatory for the objector to fill in all the required details and sign the application in the designated space. A signature stamp will not be considered a substitute for the original signature.
The Commission has directed Electoral Registration Officers to ensure verification of the applicant’s authenticity and the details available in the electoral rolls when scrutinizing Form 7 applications. If an individual files objections in more than five cases, individual verification should be conducted as per the relevant provisions. Claims and objections applications, whether received by post or submitted in person, will not be accepted by any individual if submitted in bulk.
According to the rules, where necessary, the Electoral Registration Officer will issue a notice to the objector and conduct a personal hearing to examine the validity of the objection in respect of each Form 7 application. The person against whom the objection is raised will also be given an opportunity to be heard before passing an order.
The Commission has also clarified that if any complaint is found to be false or fabricated and the applicant has knowingly made a false statement or declaration in Form-7, action can be taken against him under the provisions of Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The Election Commission of India has directed all Chief Electoral Officers to disseminate these instructions to the concerned ERO, AERO and other field officers and ensure their effective compliance.
