Alleged voter fraud in Jubilee Hills by-election “being examined”: ECI tells Telangana High Court

The BRS leaders sought a judicial directive to call for an inquiry into their representations, which were submitted to the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on October 13 and 14. In these representations, they alleged electoral malpractices and emphasised the necessity of preserving the sanctity of the electoral process.

Noting that there was “no requirement for specific direction” to the Election Commission of India, the court observed that “the petitioners unduly rushed to the court as the Commission is in the process of acting on their representation.”

The election was notified on October 13, and polling is scheduled to be held on November 11, while the last date for filing of nominations is October 21.

Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, the counsel for the petitioners, referred to specific instances of multiple registrations, sudden and unverified bulk additions in certain booths, and argued that the material collected from the ground cadres estimates that about 12,000 outside individuals have been illegally registered as voters in the Jubilee Hills constituency through the back door.

The counsel for the ECI and others submitted that preparation and revision of electoral rolls is a continuous process, not connected with any particular election. The Commission’s counsel submitted written instructions that the process of updation of electoral rolls shall continue till the last date of filing of nominations for the Jubilee Hills constituent.

The registration of electoral rolls provides for Forms 6, 7, and 8 for the purpose of addition, deletion, and transposition, respectively. The counsel also informed the court that the representations of the petitioners are being examined, and the officials are in the process of acting on the representations.

Hearing the parties and considering the relevant provisions, the court said the petitioners seem to have approached the court without waiting for their representations to be considered by the ECI or CEO. “The updation of the electoral rolls is underway till the last day of filing of nominations. Moreover, the representations of the petitioners alleging multiple registrations, bulk additions, or fraudulent entries are also being looked into, in respect of which a report has been called from the DEO by the respondent no.2. Therefore, no specific direction is to be issued by this Court in the present matter,” the Bench observed while disposing of the petition.