Missing documents put 10,470 voter entries under scanner, 2 poll officials suspended

Uttar Pradesh election authorities ordered legal action after finding 10,470 irregular voter entries in Pilibhit. The inquiry exposed missing records and prompted wider scrutiny of voter-list changes.

In Short

• A computer assistant entered 13,779 Form-8 applications between May and August
• Supporting forms and records for the processed applications could not be located
• Departmental inquiries began against two sub-divisional magistrates responsible for voter lists

Election authorities in Uttar Pradesh have ordered legal action against two officials who served as electoral registration officers and dismissed a computer assistant after irregularities were found in 10,470 voter entries in the Pilibhit Assembly constituency.

The action followed an inquiry into complaints about voter identity card details and reported manipulation of the electoral rolls. Departmental proceedings have also been ordered against the two officers.

According to a statement issued by the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, a computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre entered 13,779 Form-8 applications for changes to voter details between May 31 and August 29, 2026.

Of these, 10,470 applications were approved and 3,309 were rejected.

No application forms or supporting records linked to these entries were found in the office, the statement said.

The authorities directed legal action against the computer assistant and the two electoral registration officers posted in the constituency during the period under scrutiny.

The action will be taken under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The role of the assistant electoral registration officers is also being examined.

Pilibhit District Magistrate Alok Kumar told reporters that departmental inquiries had been initiated against Sub-Divisional Magistrates Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary following a preliminary investigation, according to Press Trust of India.

Kumar said, "The two officers were responsible for preparing the voter list during the period under scrutiny and had been attached to the district headquarters."

Computer operator Anil Kumar had been dismissed, he added.

OPPOSITIONS RAISE CONCERN AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

The controversy began after complaints that some Electors Photo Identity Card numbers displayed details belonging to other voters. The Congress alleged that 13,150 voters in the Pilibhit Sadar constituency had identical voter ID numbers despite having different names and fathers' names.

The Samajwadi Party also raised similar concerns.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday alleged large-scale manipulation of the electoral rolls in Pilibhit Sadar, claiming that the names of 13,150 voters had been changed while their voter ID and serial numbers remained the same.

Following the allegations, Rinwa directed the immediate removal of the electoral registration officer and the Voter Registration Centre operator from voter-list-related duties.

He also ordered legal action after an inquiry confirmed irregularities.

The election authorities have ordered a detailed examination of all Form-6 applications for the inclusion of names and Form-7 applications for the deletion of names entered by the computer assistant between April 10 and October 21.

A report was sought within a day. The correction of the irregular Form-8 entries in line with prescribed norms is also underway.

The action covers the dismissal of the computer assistant, legal and departmental proceedings against the officials concerned, an examination of other voter-list applications and the correction of the 10,470 irregular entries.

- Ends