The Election Commission of India has initiated legal action against two election officials and dismissed a computer assistant after irregularities were found in 10,470 voter entries in the Pilibhit Assembly constituency. The erring election officials served as electoral registration officers (EROs). Departmental proceedings have also been ordered against the EROs, while the computer assistant has been dismissed.
As per a statement issued by the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa in Lucknow, the irregularities appeared during a detailed inquiry into complaints about voter identity card details and manipulation of electoral rolls in the assembly constituency. The inquiry revealed that the computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre entered 13,779 Form-8 applications for changes in voter details between May 31 and August 29, 2026. Out of these applications, 10,470 were approved, and 3,309 were rejected.
Consequently, the authorities ordered legal action against the electoral registration officers and the computer assistant posted in the constituency during the period under scrutiny. The action will be initiated under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities are also scrutinising the role of the assistant electoral registration officers in connection with the irregularities.
Speaking to the media on Thursday (October 22, 2026), Pilibhit District Magistrate Alok Kumar said that departmental inquiries had been initiated against Sub-Divisional Magistrates Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary after a preliminary investigation into the matter. The dismissed computer operator has been identified as Anil Kumar.
“The two officers were responsible for preparing the voter list during the period under scrutiny and had been attached to the district headquarters,” Alok Kumar said.
The issue came to the notice of the authorities after some complaints were made alleging that some Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers displayed details belonging to other voters. After receiving the complaints, the state election authorities ordered a detailed examination of all Form-6 applications for inclusion of names and Form-7 applications for deletion of names entered by the computer assistant between April 10 and October 21. The authorities sought the examination report within a day. A process of correction of irregular Form-8 entries in accordance with prescribed norms is also underway.
