Form-7 Objections Emerge as Flashpoint in Bengal's Electoral Roll Revision
The controversial use of Form-7 objections, which has stirred debates in other states undergoing the Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has now become a significant issue in West Bengal. Allegations have surfaced that this provision is being misused to challenge the citizenship or life status of thousands of voters during the ongoing 2026 revision process.
Allegations of Irregularities and Targeted Harassment
Civil rights groups have reported several irregularities in parts of Bengal, claiming that thousands of voters, predominantly from the Muslim community, were incorrectly flagged as "not Indian citizen" or "dead" through mass Form-7 objections. This has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Syed Imtiaz Ali, joint secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) West Bengal, stated, "Our preliminary fact-finding report found procedural violations, lack of verification by election authorities, and targeted harassment of Muslims during the revision process through Form 7 applications."
Understanding Form-7 and Its Misuse
Form-7 is a statutory application under election rules that allows a registered voter to raise an objection against another registered voter. While intended to maintain accurate electoral rolls, reports suggest it is being exploited to disenfranchise legitimate voters.
Case Studies from Sandeshkhali and Central Howrah
In Sandeshkhali, a list titled "Objection for Proposed Inclusion i.c.w. SIR 2026" was displayed at booths on January 25. This unsigned and unsealed list contained nearly 5,963 names, all belonging to Muslim voters. According to APCR, over 5,400 individuals were marked as "Not Indian Citizen" and 444 as "Dead."
Verification by the group found that most of those listed were alive and held valid Indian citizenship documents, such as passports and legacy records. For instance, 81-year-old Abu Talib Gazi of part 14 was shocked to find his name among deceased voters, despite being listed in the 2002 SIR rolls.
In another case, the entire family of Ilyas Tarafdar in part 22 was marked as "Not Indian Citizen," despite possessing all necessary documents. Romisa Bibi, a resident, reported being declared dead even after submitting her form and valid documents.
Widespread Impact in Central Howrah
The report also highlights that over 1,800 Muslim voters in Central Howrah's Shibpur received notices questioning their citizenship. Fiayaz Ahmed, involved in collecting inputs, noted, "In many cases, dozens of objections were attributed to a single applicant."
Shoaib Ahmed, a resident of Shibpur, shared his experience: "On February 4, I received a notice regarding a 'Not Indian Citizen' objection. There was no official seal, and the address of the applicant, Amit De Sarkar, was mentioned as '70/2, West Bengal.'"
Broader Implications for Electoral Integrity
These incidents underscore potential flaws in the verification process by election authorities and raise alarms about targeted disenfranchisement. The misuse of Form-7 objections could undermine public trust in the electoral system and affect voter participation in future elections.
As the 2026 revision continues, there are calls for stricter oversight and transparency to prevent such abuses and ensure that all eligible voters are rightfully included in the electoral rolls.
