Pilibhit Voter List Row: 10,470 Entries Under Scrutiny

Uttar Pradesh election authorities have ordered legal action against two electoral registration officers and dismissed a computer assistant after an inquiry uncovered irregularities involving 10,470 voter entries in the Pilibhit Assembly constituency. The investigation found that thousands of applications for changes to voter details had been approved despite the absence of application forms and supporting records in the relevant office.

The action follows complaints alleging manipulation of electoral rolls and discrepancies in Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) details. The controversy intensified after the Congress and Samajwadi Party raised concerns about voter identification numbers and changes to voter records in Pilibhit Sadar.

According to a statement from the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, a computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre entered 13,779 Form-8 applications between May 31 and August 29, 2026. Of these, 10,470 were approved and 3,309 were rejected. Authorities said no application forms or supporting documents linked to the entries could be found.

10,470 Irregular Voter Entries Found in Pilibhit

The inquiry identified 10,470 voter-detail change applications that had been approved without the corresponding application forms or supporting records being available in the office. The findings prompted election authorities to initiate action against officials responsible for the electoral roll process during the period under investigation.

The applications were submitted through Form-8, which is used to request corrections or changes to voter details. According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the computer assistant entered 13,779 such applications between May 31 and August 29, 2026.

The applications were divided into two categories based on their outcomes:

• Approved applications: 10,470 Form-8 applications were approved despite the absence of corresponding records.
• Rejected applications: 3,309 Form-8 applications were rejected.

The absence of supporting documents for the approved entries became a central finding of the inquiry. Election authorities subsequently ordered legal action and directed officials to examine the affected voter records and correct irregular entries in accordance with prescribed procedures.

The findings concern the processing and documentation of voter-detail changes. The available information does not establish that every affected entry involved a fraudulent change to a voter’s identity or that the irregularities altered an election outcome.

Two Electoral Registration Officers Face Departmental Proceedings

Uttar Pradesh election authorities have ordered legal action against two officials who served as electoral registration officers in the constituency during the period under scrutiny. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against them following a preliminary investigation.

Pilibhit District Magistrate Alok Kumar told reporters that proceedings had been initiated against Sub-Divisional Magistrates Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary. Both officers had been responsible for preparing the voter list during the period being examined and had been attached to the district headquarters, according to Kumar.

The action follows an inquiry into complaints concerning voter identity card details and alleged manipulation of electoral rolls. Authorities are examining the responsibilities of the officials involved in processing and overseeing voter-list applications.

The role of assistant electoral registration officers is also under examination. The inquiry is intended to establish how the irregular applications were processed and why the corresponding forms and supporting records were unavailable.

Departmental proceedings and the direction to initiate legal action do not, by themselves, establish criminal guilt. The allegations against the officials will be subject to the relevant administrative and legal processes.

Computer Assistant Anil Kumar Dismissed

Computer operator Anil Kumar, who worked at the Voter Registration Centre, has been dismissed, District Magistrate Alok Kumar said.

The dismissal follows findings that the computer assistant entered thousands of Form-8 applications during the period under investigation. According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, 13,779 applications were entered, with 10,470 approved and 3,309 rejected.

Authorities have directed legal action against the computer assistant as well as the two electoral registration officers. The action will be pursued under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The investigation is also examining whether other voter-list applications processed during the relevant period require scrutiny. The available information does not provide further details about the specific evidence against each individual or the subsequent status of any criminal proceedings.

Congress Alleges Identical Voter ID Numbers for 13,150 People

The controversy began after complaints that some Electors Photo Identity Card numbers displayed details associated with other voters. The Congress alleged that 13,150 voters in the Pilibhit Sadar constituency had identical voter ID numbers despite having different names and fathers’ names.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress reiterated its allegations on Wednesday, claiming that the names of 13,150 voters had been changed while their voter ID and serial numbers remained the same. The Samajwadi Party also raised similar concerns about the electoral rolls.

These political allegations prompted scrutiny of voter records in the constituency. However, the figure of 13,150 cited by the Congress is distinct from the 10,470 irregular Form-8 entries identified in the official inquiry. The available information does not establish that the two figures refer to exactly the same set of voter records.

The distinction matters because the complaints about allegedly identical voter ID numbers and the official findings about missing application records concern related aspects of electoral roll management, but they are not necessarily identical findings.

The allegations have raised questions about the accuracy of voter information and the safeguards used when changes are made to electoral rolls. The election authorities have responded by ordering legal action, examining additional applications and initiating corrections to the affected records.

Chief Electoral Officer Orders Action After Complaints

Following the allegations, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa directed the immediate removal of the electoral registration officer and the Voter Registration Centre operator from duties related to voter lists.

Rinwa also ordered legal action after an inquiry confirmed irregularities. The subsequent action includes proceedings against the officials concerned and a wider examination of applications processed by the computer assistant.

The investigation focuses not only on the Form-8 applications already identified but also on other categories of voter-list requests submitted during the period under scrutiny. Authorities have ordered a detailed examination of Form-6 applications for the inclusion of names and Form-7 applications for the deletion of names.

The examination covers applications entered by the computer assistant between April 10 and October 21, 2026. A report was sought within one day, according to the information provided.

The broader review is intended to determine whether irregularities extend beyond the 10,470 Form-8 entries identified in the inquiry. The available information does not specify the findings of this additional examination.

Authorities Begin Correcting Irregular Voter Entries

Alongside the legal and departmental action, election authorities have begun correcting the 10,470 irregular Form-8 entries in accordance with prescribed norms.

The correction process is a key part of the response because the inquiry identified approved changes for which the relevant application forms and supporting records could not be located. Authorities have said that the entries will be addressed according to established procedures.

The wider examination of Form-6 and Form-7 applications is also intended to check other voter-list changes processed by the computer assistant. Form-6 applications relate to the inclusion of names on the electoral roll, while Form-7 applications concern the deletion of names.

Reviewing these applications could help election authorities establish whether similar documentation or processing problems occurred in other parts of the voter registration process. However, the available report does not provide the results of the additional review or state how many further entries, if any, may require correction.

Legal Action Under the Representation of the People Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Authorities have directed that legal action be taken under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The action follows an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the handling of voter-detail changes and the absence of supporting documentation for thousands of approved applications. The officials concerned also face departmental proceedings, while the role of assistant electoral registration officers is being examined.

The available information does not specify the precise charges that may be filed against each individual or provide details of any court proceedings. The legal process will determine the consequences, if any, for those found responsible for violations.

The case highlights the importance of maintaining complete records for applications that change voter details. Documenting requests and retaining supporting material are central to ensuring that electoral roll updates can be examined and verified when complaints arise.

What the Pilibhit Voter List Inquiry Means for Electoral Roll Management

The findings in Pilibhit have prompted action at several levels, including the dismissal of a computer assistant, legal and departmental proceedings against two electoral registration officers, a review of additional voter-list applications and the correction of irregular entries.

The controversy also follows allegations by opposition parties about discrepancies in voter identification numbers and changes to voter names. While these allegations prompted scrutiny, the official inquiry specifically identified 10,470 approved Form-8 entries for which the relevant application forms and supporting records were missing.

The authorities’ broader examination of Form-6 and Form-7 applications may provide further information about the scale of any problems in the processing of voter-list requests. A report was sought within one day, but the available information does not include the outcome of that review.

For now, the confirmed administrative response includes action against the officials concerned, the dismissal of computer operator Anil Kumar and steps to correct the irregular entries. Further conclusions about the scope of the alleged manipulation and individual responsibility will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiries and any subsequent legal proceedings.

Key Takeaways

• 10,470 irregular entries: An inquiry found that 10,470 Form-8 applications had been approved without corresponding application forms or supporting records being available.
• 13,779 applications processed: A computer assistant entered 13,779 Form-8 applications between May 31 and August 29, 2026; 3,309 were rejected.
• Two officials face action: Departmental proceedings have been initiated against Sub-Divisional Magistrates Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary.
• Computer assistant dismissed: Computer operator Anil Kumar has been dismissed, and authorities have ordered legal action.
• Opposition allegations: The Congress alleged that 13,150 voters in Pilibhit Sadar had identical voter ID numbers despite having different personal details. The Samajwadi Party also raised concerns.
• Wider review underway: Authorities have ordered an examination of Form-6 and Form-7 applications entered between April 10 and October 21, 2026.
• Corrections in progress: Election authorities are working to correct the irregular Form-8 entries in accordance with prescribed norms.

The Pilibhit inquiry has triggered administrative and legal action over missing records associated with thousands of voter-detail changes. With further applications under review and corrections underway, election authorities are seeking to address the identified irregularities and establish responsibility through the relevant proceedings.