Why can't Rahul Dravid vote this time: Details here
In an ironical incident, former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid, who is Karnataka election body's ambassador, won't be able to cast his vote this time as his name was excluded from the list. After reports regarding the same emerged on Sunday, Election Commission and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials stayed at loggerheads. Meanwhile, Karnataka High Court said it's too late to do anything.
How did Dravid's name get deleted from list?
Dravid used to stay in Indiranagar, which comes under Shantinagar assembly constituency of Bengaluru central Lok Sabha seat. On October 31, 2018, his brother Vijay submitted Form 7 (meant for deleting a name from voter list) as Dravid and his wife Vijeta had shifted to Ashwathnagar in RMV Extension. A booth officer visited the Indiranagar residence and deleted Dravid and Vijeta's names.
Dravid didn't take steps to include his name in list
Dravid's new residence falls under Malleswaram assembly segment. For including his name in the new list, he should have filed Form 6, but he didn't. On Monday, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said, "After shifting to new residence Rahul Dravid did not take steps to get his name included in the electoral roll although registration officials visited there several times."
Meanwhile, CEC Sunil Arora sought a report
Another officer said rules don't allow including Dravid's name in the list for the polls on April 18. He revealed Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora sought a report after media carried news of Dravid's exclusion. Reportedly, election officials went to Dravid's residence at 11 PM and explained why his name was deleted. They took his signature on Form 6 for his inclusion.
Separately, a PIL was filed in Karnataka HC regarding this
While the exclusion of names created an outrage, Shivakumar Hosamani filed PIL in Karnataka High Court seeking remedies for missing names. The PIL stated 1.83 lakh names were deleted from Bengaluru's voters' list after last year's assembly elections. The plea pointed out that there were no guidelines provided to Electoral Registration Officers and argued that citizens should be heard before their names are deleted.
However, HC questioned the timing, said can't do anything
"When a person is having the voter ID card and if his/her name is not found in the electoral roll it is a mockery on the part of respondents in not permitting them to cast their votes which is nothing but deprivation of their legitimate right to vote," the PIL read. But the HC said it can't do anything at the eleventh hour.
