Nagpur: Controversies and District Bar Association (DBA) polls go hand in hand. After inordinate delay of two years, now members complain about faulty voting list, where names of many veteran members are missing. If this is not enough, even the names of many contestants are missing, which invited sharp reactions from lawyers fraternity on the social media. Although it’s a provisional list, the members are furious over several blunders.
According to the aggrieved lawyers, the blunders were not only limited to missing names, but also there were multiple entries of same lawyers and even genders of many were changed. Although, there are nearly 6,000 members, only about 3,800 were registered till date. Lawyers said, even this number is inflated owing to multiple entries of same voters in various categories.
On Monday, the poll panel led by veteran lawyer KB Ambilwade received many objections from the harried lawyers. Accordingly, many missing names were included and corrections were made. But lawyers believe that still a big number of voters didn’t approach the panel and errors would continue in final list as well, which would be published on Wednesday.
Admitting the glitches, Ambilwade told TOI that they received about 250 objections and he himself took efforts to correct them. He also denied that names of senior lawyers and some life members were found missing. “Their names were misspelt and therefore weren’t visible. How can I drop their names, they’re all my colleagues. We had decided not to take entries from those who filled up voting forms after September 26, who may be complaining. After corrections, now our list has about 3,200 registered voters,” he said.
Some senior lawyers termed this as a deliberate move to influence the much delayed polls with a view to support a particular section, which was close to saffron parties. “It’s very shocking that names of life members, who’re serving the DBA over the years, were dropped. Even names of several contestants like Mangesh Moon, Nitin Deshmukh, and Tabir Sheikh are missing. Some male members were converted into females and vice versa,” former DBA president Sudeep Jaiswal said.
He claimed that even after demitting the office on September 17, the former body led by ex-president Prakash Jaiswal and ex-secretary Nitin Telgote continued to accept and verify the voters forms, in blatant violation of rules. “Due to multiple entries and glitches, the number of voters were shot to over 3,800,” he said.
Refuting his allegations, Jaiswal said they had no role to play in preparation of list, which was work of concerned clerks. “As per rules, till new body takes charge after installation, old one can continue. We’ve performed our duties of verification of forms till September 24. We’re assigned with the task of verification of voters’ Aadhaar cards and their recognition from Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa,” he said.
