Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers - Election Commission ...

Additionally, the ERO shall seek from the previous ERO that the photo of that elector beelectronically transferred to him so that he can incorporate the applicant’s photo in thephoto roll without troubling the applicant to submit a photograph yet again. There is noneed to issue afresh EPIC at new place, unless specifically applied for by the applicant onpayment of fee..30. ERO may refer the applications (Forms 6,7,8,8A) to the AEROs for disposal inaccordance with law. However such delegation of powers to AEROs shall not absolve theERO of his responsibility of ensuring a defect free electoral roll. The ERO and AEROcan get each of the applications scrutinized and locally verified by the verifying officers,normally the Designated Officer, the BLO etc. The verifying officer should enquire(including spot enquiry) into every claim and objection, enter his remarks if any, on eachForm and forward them to the ERO or AERO for a decision.31. The ERO shall reject any claim or objection that is not lodged within the period orin the form and manner specified under Rule 17 of RER 1960.32. If the ERO is satisfied as to the validity of any claim or objection, he may allowit, under Rule 18 of RER 1960, without further enquiry after the expiry of one week fromthe date on which it is entered in the list exhibited by him. However, if before any suchclaim or objection has been allowed a demand for enquiry has been made in writing tothe ERO by any person it shall not be allowed without further enquiry. There is noprescribed form for raising objection to a claim under Form 6,6A, 7, 8 or 8A.33. In other cases, the ERO may ask a Verifying Officer (Designated Officer, BLOetc.) to verify the facts. The Verifying Officer should not accumulate the claims andobjections received by him, but send them on to the ERO with remarks if any in smallbatches everyday, if possible, or otherwise, every week or whenever the number ofclaims/objections exceeds 50, whichever is oftener.34. In all cases where the ERO considers an inquiry necessary, an individual noticeshould be served on the claimants or in the case of objection, on the objector and also onthe person objected to. The ERO shall specify in the list exhibited by him (Form9,10,11,11A), the date and time of hearing of the claim or objection and give notice ofhearing in the case of a claim to the claimant in Form 12 (Annexure 5.12) appended tothe RER, 1960. In the case of an objection to the inclusion of name, notice of hearingshould be given to the objectors in Form 13 (Annexure 5.13) and to the person objectedto in Form 14 (Annexure 5.14). In the case of an objection to a particular or particularsin an entry, the notice should be given to the objector in Form 15 (Annexure 5.15). Thenotice, under sub-rule (2) of Rule 19 of RER, 1960, may be served or caused to be servedeither personally or by registered post or by affixing it to the person’s residence or lastknown residence within the constituency.35. ERO need not wait to commence the inquiry and hearings until the last date offiling claims and objections. He should draw up a programme for hearings in respect ofclaims and objections received on a particular day after allowing a period of 7 clear daysfrom the date on which these claims and objections were exhibited in his office underclause (b) of Rule 16 of RER 1960. Otherwise, there will be difficulty in disposing of all44