In a shocking disclosure the Goa State Election Commission statedthat it does not have any record to show if migrant voters registered in theState are not registered elsewhere, particularly in their native places.
The question becomes pertinent, as significant number ofmigrants leave in the State and have their names registered on the electoralrolls here. They also take benefit of various government schemes like DSS,Laddli Laxmi, medical etc.
In an RTI application GSEC was asked as to how many newnames were added to the voters list in different Assembly constituencies since1990. Of the list how many were original Goan residents and how many migrants.What was the proof of identification furnished by the migrants and whatdeletion certificate did they produce from the voter’s list of their previous /original place of residence?
Shockingly GSEC replied: “Information sought by you is notavailable with this office.”
On the relevant issue one is reminded of the classic exampleof Kashinath Yadav, who was elected as the Vice Chairperson of MormugaoMunicipal Council. Yadav had his name registered not only on the electoralrolls of Vasco Assembly Constituency but also at two different places in UttarPradesh.
Surprisingly the election commission office has no mechanismto keep a track of people, who are being added on the electoral roll.
The law is very clear on the issue. Section 23 (2) of theRepresentation of People’s Act 1950 states that the electoral registrationofficer shall, if satisfied that the applicant is entitled to be registered inthe electoral roll, direct his name to be included therein provided that if theapplicant is registered in the electoral roll of any other constituency, theelectoral registration officer shall inform the electoral registration officerof that other constituency and that officer shall, on receipt of theinformation, strike off the applicant's name from that roll.
The Chief Electoral Officer Keshav Chandra said: “When anapplication is received for enrollment of name in the electoral roll we followa process as per the rule. Once a name is enrolled here a letter is sent to therespective State for deletion of the name from that roll.”
