In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala has ordered the suspension of two election officials following the discovery of a voter in Beypore town, Kozhikode district, possessing three voter identity cards.
The Kozhikode District Collector has received instructions to suspend one Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and one booth level officer in response to the revelation of three voter ID cards issued to a single individual in Beypore.
The individual in question, Shahir Shahul Hameed, a resident of Beypore, was found with three separate voter ID cards. Shahir, who initially had a voter ID card, submitted additional applications on September 23 and December 1, 2023, receiving extra cards in the process. Notably, each application was accompanied by different identification documents, with Aadhaar used for the first and a Passport for the second.
Furthermore, it was uncovered that Hameed declared his name as absent from the voter list in his applications. Consequently, the Kozhikode District Collector has suspended one Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and one booth level officer under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The individual found in possession of duplicate voter ID cards could potentially face imprisonment for up to one year under the same Act. A show cause notice has been issued to the Kozhikode Collector, seeking an explanation for the oversight lapses.
Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul emphasized the need for a thorough examination by all District Collectors, EROs, and BLOs to scrutinize the draft voter list, ensuring that names have not been falsely added through deceptive applications.
