Those on electoral rolls can vote even if not included in draft NRC: ECI to SC

March 13: Wiping away fears of those whose names did not figure in the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam chief electoral officer (CEO) Mukesh Sahu said those “whose names are included in the electoral rolls can cast their votes” in the Lok Sabha elections. In the final draft published on 30 July, 2018, names of 40.37 lakh people were not included, out of which 36.28 lakh have claimed for inclusion and 2 lakh have registered their objections. The NRC updation-related hearings on claims and objections are underway at 1,436 centres across the state.

The Supreme Court on 12 March asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to file an affidavit on the action the Commission will take with respect to the names that reflect in the electoral rolls but not in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, Justice SA Nazeer and Justice Sanjeev Khanna asked EC to give data about addition and deletion of names in the voters list as revised in the month of January for 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The report further stated that the EC was handed down a deadline of March 28 next by the SC bench directing the former to give full answers to all the queries. There was huge confusion among a large section of people in Assam whether people whose names did not make it to the final draft NRC will be able to cast their votes or not.

The top court at the last hearing on March 3 had directed personal appearance of the Election Commission’s secretary, noting despite its notice, none had appeared on behalf of the poll panel. The court was hearing a plea by Gopal Seth and others. They contended that their names had been deleted from the electoral rolls merely because they were not included in the draft NRC, which was published on June 30, 2018.