Only in India: Ineligible to vote 17-year-old wins election

Heena Sultana is a member of the 7th ward of Kavatala Pattan Panchayat, Raichur District. According to documents submitted by her, she became a Taluk Panchayat member at the age of 20, after she won the election by 160 votes. If all was well, she should have been the youngest member of the Pattan Panchayat.   

But Heena Sultana's actual age is not 20. In fact, she has not even completed 17 years. According to documents accessed by Asianet Newsable - her Transfer Certificate and Marks Card - her actual date of birth is 1st June 1999. At this age, she is not even entitled to cast a vote, let alone contest an election. Besides, she also reportedly maintains two voter ID cards in two names and two areas. 

The documents she submitted to the election commission for verification lists her year of birth as 1994. 

Senior officers of the election commission have verified the documents and approved her candidature, apparently unaware of this discrepancy. 

“We are questioning her candidature. We have submitted written complaints to the Assistant Commissioner and District Collector also. But no action has been taken yet," said Kashinath, a social worker.

A case was filed in high court as well. On 12 May, the court ordered concerned officers to take necessary action. But the District Collector of Raichur, the Tahasildar and other officers appear to have neglected the court’s order. 

The Assistant Commissioner of Raichur has submitted a detailed report on the matter to the election commission. 

“The enquiry is in progress. In the election process, everybody has the right to object to a candidate during the nomination period. But some people are filing petitions after she won the election and became a member of the Pattan Panchayat. Now the election commission has no role to play. We’ll seek a legal opinion and take all necessary action” - Sasikanth Senthil, the Deputy Commissioner of Raichur said.