{
  "id": 14866237,
  "title": "ASDD bulk deletions effected by ECI without due procedure through autogenerated Form-7s signed by EROs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/asdd-bulk-deletions-effected-by-eci-without-due-procedure-through",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:22:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/asdd-bulk-deletions-effected-by-eci-without-due-procedure-through-autogenerated-form-7s-signed-by-eros/article71587728.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Election Commission of India (ECI) and its local functionaries may have been responsible for a significant bulk deletion of voters across Telangana and other parts of the country during the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR). The deletions were primarily carried out on voters falling under the 'Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate' (ASDD) categories, without following the prescribed procedure as outlined in the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.\n\nThe process involved the use of auto-generated Form-7s, which were signed by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). The ERONET software was used to create these Form-7s, with EROs' names mentioned as the objectors. However, no Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) or written communication has been shared with the state election authorities regarding these auto-generated Form-7s.\n\nWhile the ASDD category comprised a majority of absent and shifted voters, there is no confirmation on the majority of voters listed under these categories. The actual verification of many voters was limited, as most Booth Level Officers (BLOs) mainly distributed the Enumeration Forms to those who came to collect them and submitted their reports, marking those who had not returned the forms as absent or shifted.\n\nThe ASDD list was not displayed in the required format of Form-10 each day, as per the ECI guidelines. This lack of transparency and adherence to procedure has raised concerns among political parties, with the Congress alleging targeted deletion of eligible voters, particularly from marginalized groups.",
  "summary": "Form-7s were auto-generated for lakhs of voters, with ERO in place of the objector. Deletions were effected without notice period",
  "key_points": [
    "ECI and local officials bulk deleted voters during SIR.",
    "Auto-generated Form-7s signed by EROs carried out deletions.",
    "No Standard Operating Procedure communicated to state authorities."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Bypassing established verification protocols through automated documentation undermines electoral transparency and risks disenfranchising legitimate voters under the guise of administrative efficiency.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}