Under the fresh directives, the ECI has introduced separate limits for Form-7 applications submitted online and offline.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday directed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all States and Union Territories to impose strict limits on the number of Form-7 applications an individual can submit to object to names included or proposed for inclusion in electoral rolls.
The move follows repeated instances of individual electors filing multiple objections on unsubstantiated grounds. According to the Commission, such practices have caused inconvenience to genuine voters whose names were challenged and increased the administrative workload of election officials at the field level.
Under Rule 13(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules (RER), 1960, Form-7 objections or requests for deletion can only be submitted by individuals already registered in the electoral roll of the constituency concerned. Every application must be examined by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
While political party-appointed Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are permitted to submit a limited number of applications in bulk, individual electors previously had no explicit numerical limits for offline submissions.
During the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) period, BLAs can submit up to 50 forms per day before the publication of the draft electoral roll and 10 forms per day thereafter. The existing Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, prohibited bulk filings by individuals and required EROs to cross-verify cases when an elector objected to more than five names. However, offline submission limits remained at the discretion of EROs, leading to administrative confusion.
New Limits On Individual Form-7 Applications
Under the fresh directives, the ECI has introduced separate limits for Form-7 applications submitted online and offline.
During the Claims and Objections period, an individual elector can file a maximum of 10 Form-7 applications throughout the entire period. During Continuous Updation, the limit will be five applications per individual elector per month.
Signature And Verification Requirements
The Commission has reiterated that applications not submitted within the prescribed period or in the required form and manner must be rejected by the ERO under Rule 17 of the RER, 1960.
Each application must contain complete details and carry the original signature of the objector. The use of signature seals has been strictly prohibited.
EROs have also been instructed to verify applicants’ credentials against the electoral roll to establish the genuineness of their submissions.
Hearing Process And Action Against False Complaints
The directives also specify the procedure for examining objections under Rules 19 and 20 of the RER, 1960.
Before deciding an objection, the ERO must issue a notice to the objector, conduct a personal hearing and record a separate statement for every Form-7 application submitted.
If the objection is found to be valid, the ERO must give the person whose name has been challenged an opportunity to be heard before issuing a final order.
The Commission has further directed that action be initiated under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, if an ERO finds that a complaint is false or fabricated. The provision concerns knowingly making false statements or declarations.