EC to ensure allotment of unique EPIC number to registered electors amid duplicate voter ID concerns
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday clarified that electors from two different states or union territories having identical EPIC numbers does not mean there are duplicate or fake voters. The Commission explained that even if two voters share an identical EPIC number, they will still be assigned different polling booths and constituencies based on their personal details, ensuring that voters can only cast ballots in their designated areas.
The poll body mentioned in a statement that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly constituency and polling booth are different for the electors with the same EPIC number.
“Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective constituency in the state/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll, and nowhere else,” the poll panel underlined.
The EC further stated that the identical EPIC numbers given to some electors from different states and union territories were a result of the “decentralized and manual mechanism” used before the electoral roll database was moved to the ERONET (Electoral Roll Management) platform.
The Commission also emphasised that any cases of duplicate EPIC numbers will be corrected, and each voter will be given a unique EPIC number moving forward. Additionally, the ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to assist in this process.
This clarification came after the issue was raised by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, who pointed out that an elector from Cooch Behar in West Bengal shared the same EPIC number with another voter from Didarganj in Uttar Pradesh. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also alleged the presence of “fake” and “outsider” voters in the state.
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Govt slashes excise duty on petrol to Rs 3/litre, exempts diesel to shield consumers
New Delhi (PTI): The government has slashed excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 a litre and exempted diesel from the duty as it seeks to shield consumers from the impact of rising global crude prices amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Global crude prices have risen by almost 50 per cent since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering sweeping retaliation from Tehran.
In a notification issued late on March 26, the Finance Ministry cut excise duty to Rs 3 a litre, from Rs 13 a litre earlier, while the levy on diesel has been slashed to nil from Rs 10 earlier. The duty cuts are effective immediately, the ministry said.
Despite the spike in international prices, retail pump rates have not been changed putting a strain on finances of oil companies.
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To give relief to oil companies, the government has cut excise duty on petrol and diesel.
Tracking the excise duty cut notification, shares of fuel retailers IOC, BPCL and HPCL opened higher on BSE.
Rating agency ICRA, in a note on Thursday, had said if the average crude oil price goes up to USD 100-105/bbl, fuel retailers would incur a loss of Rs 11 per litre on petrol and Rs 14 per litre on diesel, respectively.
ICRA had also said that the government may reduce excise duty rates on petrol and diesel to keep retail sale prices stable at existing levels, giving oil companies more headroom to collect additional revenue to compensate for refining losses.
International oil prices touched USD 119 per barrel earlier this month on the intensifying Iran war, before pulling back to around USD 100 a barrel.
India imports 88 per cent of its crude oil needs and roughly half of its natural gas requirement. These mostly come via the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian government, military and nuclear facilities, Iran warned shipping away from the strait, and insurers withdrew coverage, effectively halting tanker movements.
Nayara Energy, which operates 6,967 of India's 102,075 petrol pumps, has decided to pass on part of the increase in input costs to consumers and has raised petrol prices by Rs 5/litre and diesel by Rs 3/litre. Petrol at Nayara pumps now costs Rs 100.71 a litre and diesel costs Rs 91.31 per litre.
Jio-bp, the fuel retailing joint venture of Reliance Industries and BP Plc that owns 2,185 outlets, has, however, so far not raised prices despite incurring heavy losses on the sale of petrol and diesel.
State-owned fuel retailers, who control about 90 per cent of the market, continue to keep rates frozen. A litre of normal petrol in Delhi continues to cost Rs 94.77, while the same grade diesel comes for Rs 87.67 a litre.
