Question : ENROLLMENT IN VOTER LIST . KUMAR SUSHMITA DEV

(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of people in voter`s list in Assam are marked as `D` voter and not allowed to exercise their franchise;

(b) if so, the details thereof along w ith the authority/orders under which these voters are not allowed their franchise;

(c) whether the Government is aware that a large number of citizens from Pakistan and Bangladesh have been enrolled in the voter`s list in various States in India;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to remove their names from the voter`s list and prevent recurrence thereof?

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) : The Election Commission has stated that as on date there are a total of 1,41,733 electors, marked with `D` in the Electoral Rolls of Assam. `D` denotes that his/her citizenship status is ` Doubtful/ Disputed` and they are not allow to cast their votes.

(b) : The District/Assembly Constituency-wise information on the `D` voters at present is attached as Annexure-I. The category of `D` voter emanated from the Election Commission of India`s instruction issued vide No.23/AS/96/VoI-Ill Dated 12th November, 1997 and as per the Commission`s Order No. 23/AS/96-Vol. -III dated 5th January, 1998 the voters categorized `D` are not allowed to cast their votes.

(c) and (d): The Election Commission has staled that Enrolment of large number of citizens from Pakistan and Bangladesh are in the electoral roll of Assam is not a fact.

(e) : The Election Commission has stated that on receipt of order from the Tribunal or from any competent court declaring a person as foreigner, verification is carried out by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer immediately as to whether his/her name has been enrolled in the Electoral Roll or not and if the name is found in the roll then his/her name is deleted from the relevant part of the electoral roll after observing the requisite formalities. This process is followed strictly to remove the name of the foreign citizens from the electoral roll.