Karnataka SIR Exercise: 99.11% Notices Delivered, 84,900 Form 7 Applications Received

More than 43.43 lakh notices have been delivered to electors in Karnataka as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while 84,900 Form 7 applications were received till October 1, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office said on Friday.

Of the Form 7 applications received between June 16 and October 1, none was filed as an objection to the proposed inclusion of a name, according to the data.

The development comes amid a political row over alleged bulk filing of Form 7 applications seeking deletion of eligible voters’ names. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar has directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found to have knowingly made false statements or declarations in electoral forms.

The direction followed a protest by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Cabinet colleagues and MLAs outside the CEO’s office, seeking an FIR and inquiry into the alleged misuse of Form 7 during the revision exercise.

As of October 2, Karnataka had 4,49,81,740 electors, including 2.23 crore men, 2.26 crore women and 2,864 transgender electors.

The CEO’s office said 43,82,306 notices had been generated, of which 43,43,137 had been delivered, marking a 99.11 per cent delivery rate. Hearings on 35,60,833 notices, or 81.99 per cent, have been completed, while 7,82,304 remain pending.

Between June 16 and October 1, officials received 8,85,952 Form 6 applications, 4,648 Form 6A applications, 84,900 Form 7 applications and 11,78,028 Form 8 applications, taking the total to 21,53,528.

Bidar recorded the highest Form 7 applications at 5,915, followed by Shivamogga with 5,760 and Dakshina Kannada with 4,746.

The last hearing is scheduled for October 12, while October 22 is the deadline for disposal of claims and objections.

The CEO said action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, would follow an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, against those knowingly filing false declarations.