UP election authorities order action against two officials over 10,470 irregular voter entries in Pilibhit

Hyderabad: Uttar Pradesh election authorities have ordered legal proceedings against two former electoral registration officers and dismissed a computer assistant after an inquiry found irregularities in 10,470 voter detail correction applications in the Pilibhit Assembly constituency.

Authorities ordered departmental inquiries against two Sub-Divisional Magistrates after a preliminary investigation into irregularities in voter records. The action followed complaints about identical voter ID numbers appearing against individuals with different names and fathers’ names. 

According to a statement from the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, a computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre submitted 13,779 Form-8 applications seeking changes to voter details between May 31 and August 29, 2026. Of these, 10,470 were approved, while the remaining 3,309 were rejected.

However, the office had no application forms or supporting documents corresponding to the entries, the statement said.

The authorities have directed action against the computer assistant and the two electoral registration officers under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The role of assistant electoral registration officers is also under examination.

Pilibhit District Magistrate Alok Kumar told reporters that preliminary findings had prompted departmental inquiries against Sub-Divisional Magistrates Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary, according to the Press Trust of India. 

"The two officers were responsible for preparing the voter list during the period under scrutiny and had been attached to the district headquarters," Kumar said.

He added that computer operator Anil Kumar had been dismissed.

Opposition parties flag voter ID discrepancies

The controversy intensified after complaints that some Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers were associated with details belonging to different voters. The Congress alleged that 13,150 voters in the Pilibhit Sadar constituency had the same voter ID numbers despite having different names and fathers' names. 

On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Congress alleged that the names of 13,150 voters had been changed while their voter ID and serial numbers remained unchanged.

Following the complaints, Rinwa ordered the electoral registration officer and the Voter Registration Centre operator to be removed from duties related to voter lists. He also directed legal action after an inquiry established irregularities.