OPEN LETTER TO DR ARUN T, DEO, KOLASIB

Subject : Illegal entry of Brus in voter list

Sir,

I can’t help telling you that I used to be  (not ‘am’) your fan as much as Sheldon Cooper is a fan of comic character ‘Flash’. Your  activism, efficiency and commitment for the people in your initial years were indeed an inspiration for one aspiring to become an IAS officer. You were as if Optimus Prime was incarnated in human form.

You came to limelight  during your tenure as Lawngtlai DC when you exposed the misgovernance and corruption in Chakma Autonomous District Council as a consequence of which  it was  put under Governor’s Rule.  This bold move of yours cost you unexpected transfer. I do  hope you don’t forget that  very large chunk of  people had your back protesting your transfer order. Even the then Joint NGOs wrote to authorities to cancel your transfer order. Yes, it’s because you were then on the right track.

However things took an abrupt turn  and your rosy days are soon gone when you took utmost effort for the enrolment of brus living in Tripura relief camps  in the electoral roll even after the Asst. Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs)  already deleted their names as they were absent at the time of hearing.

It is the EROs/AEROs who are  empowered and responsible  for  registration of electors. In compliance of  provisions of The  Registration of Electors Rules,.1960, the said applicants were deleted from electoral roll  by the concern AEROs for their absence at the time of hearing despite given considerable opportunity.

 You  stealthily added 218 voters in the roll after they were deleted by the AEROs in compliance of the said rules. Of course, being an appellate authority, you are empowered to hear and take decisions on appeals preferred before you. However, proviso (exemption) of Section 22 of The Registration of Electors Rules 1960  provides that

“...an appeal shall not lie where the person desiring to appeal has not availed himself of his right to

be heard by, or to make representations to, the registration officer on the matter which is the subject of appeal”

In simple reading, this means that at the time of hearing conducted by the AEROs, the appellants did not turn up availing their right to be heard. Therefore they are not entitled to prefer an appeal before you with regard to they being deleted from the electoral roll.

District NGO leaders  met you time and again  since the said electoral registration began yet you did not pay heed to what they asked. I must tell you I smell something fishy, there is something wrong on your part. It is said that those newly enrolled voters by your part do not have proper supporting documents and much of the slots of their particulars were left blank. If this allegation is right, all is not well. I haven’t come across such stealthy move lacking transparency which is also highly irregular.

You recently told the Coordination Committee leaders that the said rolls were not yet finalized . However your lies were soon exposed when the Coordination Committee leaders  came to learn that the rolls containing those newly and illegally added rolls were already finalized in late October. Mr Arun, in a sharp contrast to what Rihanna might have said, ‘I don’t love the way you lie’.

You are bound to defend and uphold the Constitution and laws enacted thereunder.Despite all this what you have done seems to be its polar opposite.

You are hoped and expected to use your reason over ego, unlike Shashank but you proved it wrong and you  have shaken the very credibility and confidence you once built in our heart. When you are on the right track the people are with you, when you are off that track the people are against you...that’s us.

Yours sincerely,

Vanlal Ruata Royte

Chanmari, Aizawl

13.11.2018

---

EXPLORE MIZORAM Facebook Group · 46 members Join Group