Opinion: Form 7 misuse—a threat to the right to vote

Misuse of electoral forms in Telangana raises serious questions about voter deletions, accountability, and the Election Commission’s safeguards

By Dr Arroju Srinivas

Democracy is facing a grave threat under the guise of ‘amendments’. A systematic attack is being launched on the right to vote. Through irregularities exposed on various occasions and court interventions, facts are coming to light one by one.

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Under Article 326 of the Constitution of India, the right to vote was initially granted to those who had completed 21 years of age, regardless of caste, religion, property, gender or education. Currently, every citizen who has completed 18 years of age has the right to vote.

In a democratic system, the ‘right to vote’ is a powerful weapon in the hands of the common citizen. This fundamental right, conferred by the Constitution, gives citizens the opportunity to elect their representatives. The incidents coming to light during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 process undertaken in Telangana are shocking to pro-democracy voices. It is deeply tragic that Forms 6, 6A, 7, 8, intended for correcting and updating the voters’ list, have been turned into conspiratorial weapons in the hands of political rivals to delete voters.

Credibility in Question

The Election Commission is a crucial institution in India’s democratic framework, entrusted with conducting free and fair elections, protecting voting rights, and upholding faith in the Constitution. However, growing concerns have been raised about voter deletions and the subsequent restoration of names only after reapplication.

Recent incidents in Telangana have cast doubt on the credibility and impartial functioning of the Election Commission. It is an unfortunate day for Indian democracy that forms designed for honest election management and fair maintenance of electoral rolls are being misused through the Election Commission itself to eliminate the votes of rival factions.

The High Court’s warning that no voter’s name can be deleted without prior notice and a transparent process serves as a stark wake-up call for officials

Commotion ensued as evidence surfaced revealing the abuse of various forms introduced by the Election Commission to ensure transparency in electoral rolls. Allegations are mounting that votes are being deleted and fake voters enrolled in a systematic manner. Victims allege that Form 7 is being weaponised to cause widespread voter deletion.

Abuse of Form 7

Form 7 is meant for requesting the removal of a voter’s name from the list in cases of death, relocation to another area, or duplicate entry. However, this form has now been transformed into a political tool. A direct indication of this is the large-scale submission of pre-printed Form 7 applications with names and addresses in several constituencies of Hyderabad, such as Musheerabad and Bahadurpura.

As per the rules, a voter must personally sign and submit the application. However, conspiracies were hatched to target voters belonging to a specific community or supporting a particular political party, with Form 7 applications being submitted without their knowledge to delete their votes.

It was also found that false information was being submitted on a massive scale in Form 6 (intended for enrolling new voters) and Form-6A (intended for Overseas Indian electors). By enrolling ineligible individuals and creating duplicate votes for the same person in different locations, the representation of genuine voters is being systematically diluted.

Illegally stripping a citizen of the right to vote amounts to erasing their existence and decision-making power. Systematically deleting the votes of a specific community or supporters of an opposing party for political gain violates the foundational principles and spirit of the Constitution. Removing a constitutionally guaranteed right without prior notice or inquiry is an infringement on a citizen’s fundamental right.

Turning the voters’ list into a chaotic mix through bogus applications prevents a true democratic mandate. This compromises electoral transparency and creates an environment where victories are achieved through illegal votes, giving the impression that avenues for irregularities are being facilitated through the Election Commission itself—the very body responsible for conducting fair elections. When a genuine voter arrives at a polling station only to hear “Your vote has been deleted,” their faith in the democratic system and the electoral process collapses.

HC’s Reprimand

The observations made by the High Court of Telangana regarding this dire situation brought some relief to the democratic framework. The High Court explicitly questioned how a vote could be deleted without issuing notice or giving the affected person an opportunity to provide an explanation. The fact that even a sitting judge on the bench received such a notice serves as an example of the flaws and negligence present in this process.

Relying solely on technology and artificial intelligence to delete votes without proper field-level verification poses a risk of thousands of genuine voters losing their rights. The High Court’s warning that no vote can be deleted without prior notice and a transparent process is a stark wake-up call for officials.

Following the reprimand from the High Court, Chief Electoral Officer of the State C Sudarshan Reddy initiated corrective measures. Responding sternly to these fake applications, he clarified that criminal cases must be registered against those providing false declarations under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, ensuring actions that lead to up to one year in prison.

Changes Needed

However, rather than stopping at orders, the following ground-level changes need to take place. Accountability must be fixed so that no eligible voter loses the right to vote.

First, the BLO (Booth Level Officer) system and supervising officers must be strengthened. Whenever Form 6, 6A, or 7 is received, BLOs must personally visit the applicant’s residence and take a decision only after direct verification.

Bulk Form 7 applications originating from a single IP address or submitted by a single individual must be flagged at the system level, and criminal investigations must be launched against those behind such conspiracies. A simple and rapid reinstatement process must be made available to voters who lose their votes due to technical errors or conspiracies.

Before the Constitution of India came into force, under British rule, voting rights were limited to a wealthy and educated few, creating an undemocratic and elitist electoral system. Looking at the current conduct of the Election Commission, it feels as though India is being pushed back into pre-independence conditions. Society must strongly condemn these “digital and Form-based conspiracies” that strip citizens of their votes for political self-interest and unfair shortcuts to victory.

The Election Commission must halt these irregularities and ensure that no genuine voter loses the right to vote. When the Election Commission fails to discharge its duties properly, courts must intervene in this manner to safeguard the voting rights of ordinary citizens. The democratic spirit of India must endure for future generations. May the universal franchise guaranteed by the Constitution thrive.

 

(The author is President, Telangana Adhyayana Samalochana Kendram [TASK])