[Reader-list] MNIC: Parliament Questions - 6

[Taha Mehmood]

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  	LAW , JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED 	 QUESTION NO  	3577
ANSWERED ON   	17.04.2000
IDENTITY CARDS TO VOTERS
3577 .	Shri KIRIT SOMAIYA
	
AJAY SINGH CHAUTALA


(a) whether the Election Commission of India has requested the
Government to make arrangements for issuance of identity card to all
voters in the country;

(b) if so, the names of the States where the voters identity cards
have been issued to all the voters till December, 1999;

(c) the details of those States where production of identity cards
were made mandatory for casting votes in the elections held in
February, 2000 along with the basis on which such a decision was
taken;

(d) whether the Government of Haryana has issues identity cards to all
its voters;

(e) if so, the details of those States which have expressed their
inabilities to do so;

(f) the reaction of the Union Government thereto; and (g) the steps
taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to implement the orders
of the Election Commission And casting the votes on the basis of
identity card will be made mandatory in each State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW, JUSTICE & COMPANY AFFAIRS

(SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) Photo Identity cards have not yet been issued to all electors in
the country. About thirty-eight crore electors representing 62% of the
eligible electors of the country have so far been provided Photo
Identity Cards. The scheme has so far not been extended to the State
of Jammu and Kashmir. The work has also not started in Assam and
Mizoram till now, although the programme has been extended to these
States. According to the Election Commission, the scheme of issue of
Photo Identity Cards to electors is not a project but an ongoing
programme and no time limit can be fixed for completion of such a
programme. The registration of electors is a continuous process
(except for a brief period between the last date for filing nomination
and completion of election process.) Therefore, the scheme of issue of
Photo Identity Cards to the registered electors is also a continuous
programme and every new elector has also to be covered by the scheme.

(c) The production of Electoral Photo Identity Cards was insisted upon
in the recently held general elections to the Legislative Assembly of
Haryana in February, 2000. The Commission had also prescribed other
means of identification for the electors not provided with Photo
Identity Cards.

(d) No, Sir. Out of a total of 11,107,835 electors, 9831,338 electors
have been issued Photo Identity Cards in Haryana.

(e) No State/Union territory has expressed its inability to implement
the programme of Electoral Photo Identity Cards. However, the scheme
has so far not been extended to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The
work has also not started in Assam and Mizoram till now, although the
programme has been extended to these States.

(f) The Government has extended its support for this programme and is
providing necessary funds for this programme which is sharable between
the Union and the State Governments on 50:50 basis.

(g) The scheme is being monitored by the Election Commission and it
has stated that complete coverage of the entire electorate is not
possible at a given point of time due to new additions in the
Electoral Rolls. At present, the Government has no proposal to make
production of Photo Identity Cards mandatory at the time of voting. It
may also be stated that the orders of the Election Commission issued
in 1994 are sub-judice before the Supreme Court of India.