Sanjay Singh Urges CEC to Safeguard Rights of 11.73 Lakh Delhi Voters
AAP MP Sanjay Singh writes to CEC Gyanesh Kumar to safeguard the voting rights of over 11 lakh Delhi voters marked as absent or untraceable.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has stepped in to defend the voting rights of over 11 lakh citizens in the national capital. In a formal letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Singh has called for immediate intervention by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that 11.73 lakh Delhi voters, currently categorized as absent or untraceable, are not disenfranchised.
The Core of the Dispute: Form 6 vs. Form 8
The controversy stems from the recent Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. According to Singh, there is a significant structural error in how the ECI is handling the restoration of voter names. He argues that citizens who were previously registered but were later deleted from the rolls should not be forced to use Form 6.
Form 6 is specifically designed as a declaration for first-time voters. Singh contends that requiring existing voters to use this form effectively treats them as new applicants, which he views as an improper procedure for those who already held a valid registration.
The MP pressed for the immediate execution of directions issued by the Supreme Court on October 28, which stipulated that voters moved to the 'Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate' (ASD) list must be allowed to submit Enumeration Forms or Form 8 to restore their names.
Breaking Down the Numbers: 47 Lakh Voters Affected
The scale of the electoral roll revision in Delhi is massive. Data reveals that approximately 47 lakh voters were removed during the initial phase of the exercise. The breakdown of these deletions is as follows:
- 31.59 Lakh Voters: Classified as permanently shifted.
- 11.73 Lakh Voters: Identified as absent or untraceable, primarily because they failed to submit the required documentation within the designated timeframe.
ECI's Stance and Judicial Oversight
Responding to the concerns, the Election Commission clarified on November 3 that affected individuals could utilize Form 6 to regain their voting rights. The Commission assured that such applicants would not face prosecution under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Despite this clarification, the matter remains under the watchful eye of the judiciary. The Supreme Court is monitoring the process to ensure that no eligible citizen is unfairly stripped of their right to vote. The court has signaled its readiness to intervene if necessary, and the matter is slated for further examination on November 19, 2026.