No Time Limit for Issuance of EPICs, ECI Tells RTI Applicant

 Bring EPIC services under PSGA: RTI Activist

Jammu, 15/Marh/2014: Even after 21 years (from Aug-1993) of launch of issuing of photo identity cards by Election Commission of India even today there is no time limit fixed by the election commission of India for issuance of Election Photo Identity Card to a registered voter. The election commission of India in a response to  an application under Right to Information Act  has confessed that no specific time limit has been fixed by the commission. While responding to an RTI query of RTI activist Raman Sharma regarding time specified for issuance of an EPIC to a registered voter, the CPIO and Under Secretary of the Election commission of India vide his office letter no. 4/RTI/12/2014-ERS/862 dated 27/02/2014 has stated “no specific time limit has been fixed by the commission. However it is informed that efforts are made to provide Election Photo Identity Card at the earliest to a person who is enrolled in the electoral roll and has not received EPIC before”.  On another question of the applicant the CPIO has informed that expenditure incurred on EPICs is borne by the Central government and the state government in 50:50 ratio. On the question of total number of voters in J & K and also total number of voters who have been issued Epics’ in  J &K since 2000, the commission has stated that data has not been compiled for Jammu and Kashmir separately however data for all state can be had from the commission. The CPIO of the ECI has denied information to Raman Sharma on his queries  where the applicant has asked about period of time when all the voters shall be issued EPIC cards in J &K and India, the CPIO has stated that the information sought in not in the form of information as defined in section 2(f) of the right to information act.

On being asked about his intention to seek this information from election commission,  Raman said there are many cases where the registered voters even after submitting all formalities  do not get their EPICs for months  together. He demanded bringing service of providing EPIC under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011 so that the voters can get their EPICs in a stipulated time limit and without any discrepancies which would obviously also enhance the voting percentage in the elections. 

JK Newspoint, 16/Mar/2014


Published in JK Newspoint, greater kashmir, journey line, kashmir times

http://www.jknewspoint.com/newsdet.aspx?q=33096

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Text of RTI Application

Application Under Right To Information  Act 2005

PIO

Election Commission of India,

New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

Kindly provide me the following point wise information under the provision of Right to Information Act, 2005. I am a bonafide citizen of India and an initial fee of Rs.10/-in shape of IPO, No 08F 877098  has also been enclosed.

INFORMATION SOUGHT

1	Total amount of money spent by the election commission for the purpose of providing Election Photo Identity Cards to voters in J &K.  Provide year wise information right from year 2000 to till date.
2	Provide details like Name and particulars of the department/agency that has been assigned the task of providing EPICs to the citizens by the ECI.
3.	Intimate Total number of voters in J & K and also total number of voters who have been issued Epics’ in  J &K,  give year wise detail right from 2000 to till date.
4.	In what period of time all the voters shall be issued EPIC cards in J &K.
5	In what period of time all the voters in India shall be issued EPIC cards.
6	Total amount of money paid by the ECI to a voter card for his/ her photograph.
7	Intimate  total number of EPIC card holders in India as on date, give state wise list
8	Intimate total number of voters in India as on date, state wise
9	Total number of complaints received by the ECI from J & K voters regarding faulty EPICs and also provide detail of action taken by ECI in this regard.
10	Total amount of money spent by the election commission for the purpose of providing Election Photo Identity Cards to voters in all states of India.  Provide year wise and state wise information right from year 2000 to till date.
11	As per rules  in how many days/months an EPIC should be issued to a voters after submitting all formalities’.
12	Total amount of money issued by the ECI to the J & K election department for the purpose of providing EPICs to voters right from year 2000 to till date, give year wise detail.

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