The Kerala High Court is considering a petition from Congress candidate Vyshna Suresh, who is contesting from the Muttada ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, after her name was removed from the electoral roll. She has approached the Court seeking reinstatement, arguing that the deletion followed a complaint filed after her candidature announcement and that the decision was arbitrary. According to her petition, she and her family were originally included in the draft voters’ list, but after the objection was raised by a CPM branch secretary, the Election Commission issued a notice. In a hearing, Vyshna claims she produced documentation establishing her residence, yet her name, along with her parents’, was ultimately struck off the final list without a formal order being recorded.
Vyshna and her party allege that this deletion violates her statutory and constitutional rights to vote and contest, and that it appears politically motivated. In justifying her case, Vyshna points to her declared address at a family home in Muttada, despite her current dwelling being a rented accommodation elsewhere, and says she submitted proof accordingly. She further states that her appeal under the relevant municipal electoral rules was stymied because the order deleting her name was not shared with her, preventing her from properly responding. She has urged the High Court to order the Election Commission to hear her appeal immediately and restore her voter registration, especially given that the nomination filing deadline is looming.
In response, the High Court sharply criticized the deletion, describing it as “unfair” and “deeply unjust,” particularly given Vyshna’s young age and the fact that she had already begun campaigning. The Court questioned whether a candidate should be removed from the rolls on what appeared to be a technicality, especially when she had provided correct documents and no evidence of dual voter registration elsewhere. The Bench directed the State Election Commission to hear Vyshna and reinstate her name in the voter list without delay. It also asked the District Collector to decide her appeal by a fixed date before the deadline for nominations — warning that it would deploy its extraordinary powers if the Commission failed to comply.
The Court’s intervention underscores the critical importance of procedural fairness in electoral administration. It rejected any notion that Vyshna should be disqualified on purely technical grounds, emphasizing that election rules must not be manipulated to undermine democratic participation. It also appears deeply concerned about the timing and circumstances under which the objection was raised — soon after her candidacy was publicly announced — suggesting possible political motives behind it.
The case has broader implications, highlighting issues around electoral roll management, the fairness of the deletion and objection processes, and the rights of candidates and voters to a transparent and equitable process. By demanding an urgent hearing and a decision on Vyshna’s appeal, the High Court is signaling that errors or manipulations in the electoral list cannot be treated lightly — particularly when they threaten a young person’s right to participate in the democratic process.
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