Chandigarh (August 28, 2011): It is learnt that the Chief Commissioner Gurudwara Elections has issued orders directing the voters to establish their identity at the Polling stations at the time of poll for the SGPC Election to be held on 18 September, 2011 by producing the identity cards issued them under the authority of Election Commission of India.
He said that where such an identity card had not been issued or is not available for whatsoever reason the voters can established their identity by producing any of the following alternative documents like Driving Licences, PAN card, Bank/Post office passbooks, Ration card, Arms Licences, SC/ST/OBC Certificates issued by competent authority, Pension documents such as Ex-servicemen book/Pension Payment order, Ex-servicemen widow/dependent certificates, old age pension order, widow pension order, Railway Identification Card, Freedom Fighter Identity Card, Certificate of Physical Handicap by the competent authority, Kissan Passbook, Service Identity Card, Photo duly attested by Gazetted Officer, Passport.
The Chief Commissioner, S. Harphool Singh Brar, also clarified that any documents as enumerated above, which is available only for the head of the family shall be allowed for purpose of identification of the other members of the family and similarly any documents in the name of any member of the family could also be used for identification of other members of the family, provided that the other member can be identified on the basis of such document.
The Chief Commissioner further directs that the Presiding Officers appointed on the polling stations for the election of the SGPC shall ensure that only the Keshadhari voters are allowed to cast votes and the persons are below the age of 21 years also shall not be allowed to cast their votes.
It is notable that Panthic bodies, fearing the casting of bogus votes were pressing for the issuance of voter cards with photo identification.