Use of bogus ration cards is a big blow to democracy: HC

The Bombay high court on Friday directed the chief election commissioner and the state election commissioner to reconsider the use of ration cards as identity proof for voters.

The court was hearing a petition on alleged use of fake cards during the Lok Sabha elections.

“If one is allowed to cast vote with a bogus ration card, it will be a great blow to democracy,” said justice PB Majmudar.

The division bench of justice Majmudar and justice RG Ketkar has also directed the election commissioners to find out whether any changes need to be carried out in the documents that are used as identity proof for exercising the right to vote. The court has sought a reply in four weeks.

Navi Mumbai-based Shiv Sena activist Shirish Gharat had filed a petition in April 2009 alleging that bogus ration cards were used by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers during the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that he had received a call on April 23, 2009, informing him about fake ration cards being printed at a shop in Belapur.

“My party workers and I immediately rushed to the spot and found the bogus cards,” Gharat’s petition claims. “They were to be delivered at a building known as White House, which is the election office of the NCP. The place belongs to NCP member of parliament Sanjeev Naik.”

Gharat further alleged that despite being informed, the Belapur police registered an FIR a day later, on April 24. The police was also informed that about 5,000 fake ration cards were printed on instructions of NCP leader Santosh Mhatre.

The police have also recorded the statement of one Ramesh Patil in this matter. The election commission, in a notification issued just before the parliamentary elections, had included ration cars, smart cards and health insurance cards as proof of identity for voting.