The Uttar Pradesh election authorities have announced legal proceedings against two current and former electoral registration officers, alongside the dismissal of a computer assistant, following the discovery of irregularities in 10,470 voter entries within the Pilibhit Assembly constituency. This decision was confirmed by officials on Thursday, as they seek to address the discrepancies found in the voter registration process.

According to a statement from the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa in Lucknow, a comprehensive investigation revealed that a computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre processed 13,779 Form-8 applications for amendments to voter details between May 31 and August 29, 2026. Out of these applications, 10,470 were approved while 3,309 were rejected, raising concerns about the validity of the entries.

Notably, no application forms or supporting documentation pertaining to these entries were located in the office, prompting the authorities to take action. Legal measures are being pursued against the computer assistant and the two Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) who were stationed in the constituency during the relevant time period, under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, along with applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Departmental Inquiries Launched

In response to the irregularities, District Magistrate Alok Kumar announced that departmental inquiries have commenced against Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDM) Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary. These inquiries were initiated following a preliminary investigation into the matter, which revealed that the two officers were responsible for compiling the voter list during the scrutinised period.

Kumar stated that both officers have been reassigned to the district headquarters as the investigation continues. The computer operator, identified as Anil Kumar, has been dismissed from his position, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations against him.

The situation escalated after complaints surfaced regarding discrepancies in the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, which allegedly displayed information belonging to other voters. The Congress party claimed that 13,150 voters in the Pilibhit Sadar constituency had identical EPIC numbers, despite differing names and paternal details. Similar concerns were also raised by the Samajwadi Party.

Thorough Examination of Voter Applications Ordered

In light of these allegations, the election authorities have mandated a detailed review of all Form-6 applications for name inclusion and Form-7 applications for name deletion that were processed by the computer assistant between April 10 and October 21. A report on these findings is expected within a day to facilitate prompt action.

Furthermore, the correction of the irregular Form-8 entries is currently underway, adhering to established norms. The Uttar Pradesh Congress had previously alleged widespread manipulation of the electoral rolls in the Pilibhit Sadar Assembly constituency, asserting that the names of 13,150 voters had been altered while their EPIC and serial numbers remained unchanged.

Following these serious allegations, CEO Rinwa instructed that the ERO and the VRC operator of Pilibhit be immediately relieved of their responsibilities related to the voter list, and that legal action be initiated against them, as inquiries confirmed the existence of irregularities. The ongoing investigations aim to restore integrity to the electoral process in the region.

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