ECI tightens voter list rules with birth-year based documentation tiers
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, July 10: Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has some specific dates prefixed…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, July 10: Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has some specific dates prefixed like ‘after’, ‘before’ and ‘between’.
It’s ‘born in India after 2.12. 2004.’ Again, it is ‘born in India before 1.7.1987. There is an intermediary. It’s ‘born in India between 1.7.1987 and 2.12.2004’.
There is one thing very common with these three after, before and between. It is born in India. One is to prove it, as per the ECI.
Attained the age of 18? Born in India after 2.12. 2004? Want to be an elector? Need inclusion in electoral roll through ECI’s Form 6?
The task is now no cakewalk. Persons ‘born in India after 2.12. 2004’ are to give date of birth and/or place of birth. Same will be for father and mother like their date of birth and/ or place of birth.
Also Read- SC flags EC’s timing in Bihar voter revision, asks petitioners to prove claims
If any parent is not Indian, then present copy of the valid passport and visa at the time of birth of the person who wants to be included in the electoral roll.
The remaining conditions like person has not applied for inclusion in any other assembly constituency etc are intact.
Relaxations for Pre-1987 Births, Stricter Checks for Others
Now, ‘born in India before 1.7.1987’. Here a person is relieved of the tension of providing date of birth of father and mother. Nothing of this sort is required for person born in India before 1.7.1987. A person is to give his date of birth and/ or place of birth.
Born ‘in India between1.7.1987 and 2.12.2004.’ Here there is one relaxation unlike that of after 2.12.2004. Here a person is to give date of birth and/or place of birth of either father or mother, but not both of them.
Among the 11 documents; identity card, certificate, document issued in India by LIC, Post Office etc prior to 1.7.1987 is valid.
Passport will suffice for one’s Indian citizenship. Right. But how many Indians have passport?
In an answer to an unstarred question (number 705) in Rajya Sabha on 8.2.2024 , the Minister of State in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) V Muraleedharan had put the figure of issued and valid passports in India as 9, 26,24,661.
Kerala is a state in India which tops the list of the issued and valid passports pan India.
Also Read- Delhi court clears Derek O’Brien, TMC leaders over protest outside EC office
Ration Card Excluded Due to Reliability Issues
For a poor Indian it’s his ration card that is as precious as any rich man’s passport but unfortunately ECI has not listed ration card in its list of 11 demands. The reason is not far to seek. Ration cards are fudged. There are cases where dead man continues to eat subsidised ration for years even when his flesh mixes with the earth.
Again, the ECI has listed among 11 demands one as the Family Register. It is incomplete in itself. It’s in fact a Family Register Certificate issued by the revenue personnel. But all said and done Family Register Certificate has a limited validity on account of birthday and death as the Family Register Certificate has a column of relationship.
2003 Voter Roll Offers Some Relief
Pensioners have fewer worries about proving their Indian citizenship. Their pension payment order will fit the bill.
ECI has maintained that the electoral roll of 2003 with a qualifying date of 1.1.2003 as ‘probative evidence….. including presumption of citizenship’. It’s no less of a big relief.
