Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has asked the Election Commission of India to make modifications in Form 6 in order to get previously registered voters included in the revised electoral rolls after their names were removed during the special intensive revision (SIR).
The state poll panel has urged the poll body to make the changes so that they could apply for inclusion without declaring themselves.
The request was made after a legal complexity arose for inclusion of the left-out voters during the poll body's own course correction exercise. On September 29, the election commission announced to hold a 'special campaign' in 20 states and UTs where the SIR has been completed.
As part of the campaign, which was described as ensuring 'no eligible voter is left out', the poll body directed the state poll panels to use Form 6.
However, as per law, Form 6 is strictly for inclusion of the first-time voters. It is titled "Application form for new voters". It means the form requires a declaration for the same.
Those left out of the revised electoral rolls are not new voters, and so the declaration has raised concerns while participating in the fresh drive of the poll body.
People on the ground are reluctant to make the declaration as it could invite legal action for making false statements.
Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1960, makes false declaration a punishable offence with a jail term of up to one year with or without fine.
The on-ground difficulties faced by the officials and workers employed on duty has prompted the Maharashtra CEO to make the request. As per reports, the request was made in a proposal last week.