DARLA RAMA DEVI Vs. GOVT OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONERS 1 to 20 figured as voters in Booth No. 26 of Badevaripalem village, Kandukur Assembly Constituency. Similarly, petitioners 21 to 40 were enlisted in the voters' list for Booth No. 27 of the same village. In the month of December 2008, the respondents have undertaken revision and updating of voters' list. The names of the petitioners were deleted, on the ground that they are not ordinary residents of the Village. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioners approached the appellate authority. Even that was of no consequence. Therefore, this writ petition is filed with a prayer to direct the respondents to enquire into the matter after giving opportunity to the petitioners.

(2.) IN the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, the petitioners have stated the various steps that were followed in the matter of preparation and updating of the voters' list. They state that soon after it was declared in the Gram Sabha, that their names are deleted, they have made representations and that the same were not considered. They assert that they are natives and ordinary residents of the village and the mere fact that they go out for some time to eke out their livelihood cannot be a ground to delete their names. On behalf of the respondents, a detailed counter affidavit is filed. The programme that was taken up for revision of the electoral list is explained in detail. It is stated that the Electoral Registration Officer, 3rd respondent herein, caused necessary enquiry and issued notices to the petitioners, before their names were deleted. According to them, the service of notice was effected through substituted means, since the petitioners were not available.

(3.) THE petitioners filed a reply affidavit denying the allegations in the counter affidavit.