Names of only 1,340 voters missing in Pune: Maharashtra government tells High Court

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government questioned the maintainability of a PIL filed in connection with deletion of names in voters' list during the just-held elections in Pune Lok Sabha seat, saying only 1,340 names were missing and not one lakh as alleged therein.

Government pleader SS Shinde told Justice N H Patil and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai that in an inquiry carried out by the concerned officials, it was found that only 1,340 names were missing from the electorate in Pune Lok Sabha constituency.

He, therefore, argued that the court would have to see whether or not the "PIL is maintainable in the first place".

As the petitioner's lawyer V P Patil was not present, the court adjourned the matter.

The court was hearing social activist Pratap Gaikwad's PIL alleging that a fraud had been committed on voters by deleting names of one lakh persons, including that of the petitioner.

The PIL has sought appointment of an inquiry commission to look into the matter and urged the court to direct the Centre and state governments, along with the Election Commission, to include the missing names in the voters' list.

The petition also sought appointment of a retired judge of Supreme Court or of a High Court to supervise the update of voters' list on regular basis.

Challenging the constitutional validity of Article 329 of the Constitution, which imposes a bar on court to interfere in electoral matters, the PIL stated the constitutional rights of the people to vote were taken away by this serious lapse on the part of the concerned officers.