Following to the direction of the Manipur High Court for verification of the date of birth of all young voters in 33-Heirok constituency, in the age group of 18 years, the district election officer of Thoubal filed an affidavit stating no underaged voter exercised franchise in any of the polling booths of Heirok constituency.
The district election officer, on May 23, filed the affidavit stating that out of 785 voters who were shown as 18 years of age or so, 684 voters exercised their franchise on the day of the election and upon due verification, they were allowed to do so.
The HC, on March 3, noted that there was imminent risk of such a possibility as the revision of electoral rolls had taken place at the eleventh hour without proper verification. The court further noted that Booth Level Officers at Heirok had addressed letters in that regard, giving the details of 16 alleged minors, whose names had been included in the revised electoral list.
As the costly and time-consuming exercise of holding the Assembly Election on March 5, 2022 in the constituency stood at risk, the High Court directed the Election authorities, by way of an interim order, to undertake verification of the dates of birth of all young voters in Heirok Assembly Constituency (33) who appeared to be in the vicinity of the age of majority, namely, 18 years, by insisting upon production of two documents in proof of their dates of birth.
The Election authorities were directed to for wide publicity of the order so that all such young voters would come prepared with necessary documentation.
The HC closed the public interest litigation as the grievances had been settled.
It may be mentioned that the court issued the direction following the writ petition filed in public interest, raised in relation to the impending Legislative Assembly Elections, in so far as Heirok assembly constituency (33), several underaged persons have been included in the revised electoral roll.
