PIL challenges deletion of one lakh names in Pune voters list

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court today alleged deletion of names of one lakh electorate in Pune Lok Sabha constituency and urged for a direction to the Centre, state government and the Election Commission to include them in the voters' list.
The PIL, filed by social worker Pratap Gaikwad, was mentioned by lawyer V P Patil before a bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil which posted the matter for hearing on April 28.
The PIL alleged that a fraud had been committed by deleting the name of one lakh persons, including that of the petitioner, from the voters' list and sought appointment of a Commission of inquiry to probe the matter.

The petition also sought appointment of a retired Supreme Court Judge or a High Court Judge to supervise the update of a voters' list on regular basis.
The PIL also sought a direction to the Centre and state to conduct registration of voters as ongoing continuous process as it relates to birth and death of citizens.
The PIL said that deletion of names from the voters' list was a serious issue in which the state government's staff from Collector's Office was allegedly involved. It sought criminal action against the guilty officials.

The petitioner said that his wife had filed an FIR with police and a complaint had also been lodged with the Pune Collector, but no action had been taken against the guilty.

The PIL also challenged the constitutional validity of article 329 of the Constitution, which imposes a bar on the Court to interfere in electoral matters. It argued that the constitutional rights of the people to vote were taken away by this serious lapse on the part of the concerned officers.
The petitioner said the "voters list scam" is a fraud played on thousands of citizens of Pune, which requires interference by the High Court. It is necessary to restore the fundamental rights of citizens with immediate effect.
The PIL contended that 'right to vote' could not be withdrawn or modified or taken away by the state. The name in the voters' list can be deleted only if the person is dead or has accepted citizenship of another country or has applied suo motu (on his own).