EPIC loopholes scanned

Statesman News Service

MALDA,(India) Jan. 2. — Irregularities in the distribution of electoral photo identify cards (EPIC) in certain gram panchayat areas in the Malda district still pursue, and the concerned officials have been held responsible, after an enquiry was conducted by the district election authorities, following instructions from the Election Commission, a senior officer informed today.Officials said that the district magistrate has called a meeting on Tuesday, with the 15 electoral registration officers to review the situation and look into electoral roll revision, including the present set up of the polling stations. District election officials have been directed to submit report on party affiliated club and to prepare a list of party offices very close to the selected polling stations. “All political leaders have been informed about the present guidelines slated by the Election Commission regarding the location of party offices and party affiliated clubs and rural libraries”, a senior officer said. “There are over 25 places in the Malda district where the commission may object in setting up of the polling stations”, sources informed. The district electoral registration officials have been instructed to submit a report after the deletion of the names of the dead persons, deletion of the names of duplicate persons and claims and objections of applicants for the electoral roles. The report would also contain present position and location of the polling stations categorically, so that the EC can take steps for the proper development of its infrastructure. The reports have to be submitted by the officials to the EC by 5 January, sources informed. It has been directed by the EC, that all electoral registration officials would conduct door-to-door sample checking to confirm that there are no more loop-holes in the distribution system. The officials have also been asked to give all reports starting from the time of the inception of the EPIC till the present times. After the detection of the irregularities in EPIC distribution came to light, it was revealed that the system followed for the distribution of the EPIC through the gram panchayat was incorrect.

EPIC probe begins (published on 28-29 Decemebr 2005)

Pic collected from Yahoo site