Address Delhi voter list concerns with tech tools, HC tells EC

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Election Commission to consider, at an appropriate stage, a plea raising concerns over alleged duplication of names in the capital's voter list and adopt technological tools that would help in removing these.

"There is a process for the revision of the electoral roll. It can't be done at this stage," a bench of acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said after the petitioner contended that Delhi Assembly elections would be over by the time the commission takes up his plea.

The court remarked that "before every election these matters come". Advocate Sidhant Kumar, appearing for Election Commission, said the petition did not show a single instance of the alleged duplication. He further stated that the commission already undertook the necessary procedure for the revision of electoral rolls and even Supreme Court considered the issue.

"He says there are two tools. If you think there are comparable tools that you used, it's alright. You don't have to do anything. If you find these tools are better, consider it. We are only asking you to not close your mind," the court told EC's counsel."In view of the above, we consider it apposite to dispose of the petition by directing the respondents (EC and Delhi chief election officer) to consider the averments made in the petition at an appropriate stage," it noted.

Rashtravadi Aadarsh Mahasangh, a political party, alleged that the voter list in Delhi had several duplicate entries. The plea stated there were certain technological tools to detect duplication and prayed that a direction be issued to the poll authorities to adopt them and eliminate such entries.