Petitioners claim procedural violations and lack of transparency, seeking a fair list
Team Clarion
BENGALURU – Six petitioners have approached the Karnataka High Court, challenging the revised voters’ list issued for the election of trustees to the Waqf Board. The petition accuses authorities of procedural violations, lack of impartiality, and manipulation of the voters’ list, raising concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
The revised list, published on 22 October 2024, is alleged to have been prepared in violation of the Karnataka Waqf Rules, 2017. The petitioners claim that eligible trustees were omitted while others were included arbitrarily, without justification.
One of the significant contentions is the drastic alteration in voter representation across several districts. For instance, the number of voters in Bengaluru urban area has reduced from 92 to 51, while Belagavi’s voter count has increased from 16 to 59.
“The revised list appears designed to benefit a few influential individuals at the cost of fairness,” said one of the petitioners.
The petitioners also highlighted procedural lapses, stating that the initial voters’ list was never published, nor was there an announcement to invite objections. “This has deprived eligible individuals of their right to contest the changes,” the petitioners argued.
The controversy stems from a high court order on 15 October 2024, directing authorities to revise the voter list after identifying irregularities. The petitioners allege that the revised list, hastily issued within days, failed to comply with the court’s directives.
Another major point of contention is the exclusion of approximately 31,000 waqf institutions from the voters’ list. The petitioners argue that applying an annual income eligibility criterion of more than ₹1 lakh is unreasonable and unjust.
Adding to the controversy, the appointment of returning officers, the election schedule, and the election process were all announced on the same day as the revised voters’ list. This raised further doubts about the transparency and intentions of the authorities.
The petitioners have requested the high court to quash the revised voters’ list and, if necessary, nullify elections conducted based on it. They demand a fresh list adhering to legal norms and ensuring a fair process.
The high court’s decision on this matter is expected to set a significant precedent for electoral integrity within the Waqf Board governance system.