Draft voter list for Dakshina Kannada released: 51,815 new voters, 22,948 names deleted
Mangaluru: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the release of the draft voter list for Dakshina Kannada district as part of its 2025 voter list revision schedule. The draft, published on October 29, includes 51,815 new voters added and 22,948 names removed from the district’s list. A total of 28,827 corrections have also been made, according to officials.
The revision schedule allows citizens to raise claims and objections from October 29 to November 28. Special registration campaigns are scheduled at polling booths on November 9, 10, 23, and 24 to assist new voters in the registration process. All claims and objections will be addressed by December 24.
Voter Statistics by Constituency
The draft list outlines the following voter numbers across key constituencies in the district:
- Belthangadi: 2,32,269 voters
- Moodbidre: 2,10,211 voters
- Mangalore City North: 2,56,112 voters
- Mangalore City South: 2,53,407 voters
- Mangalore: 2,09,955 voters
- Bantwala: 2,29,236 voters
- Puttur: 2,16,821 voters
- Sullia: 2,09,261 voters
In addition, 19,905 voters between the ages of 18 and 19 have registered, while 23,894 voters in the district are above the age of 85. The list also includes 14,268 specially-abled voters, 258 NRI voters, and 514 service voters.
Voter Registration Process
New voters who turned 18 by January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 of this year can apply for inclusion. Those eligible can register online through the Voter Helpline App (VHA) or on the ECI’s official website at [https://voters.eci.gov.in](https://voters.eci.gov.in). Applicants are required to submit proof of age, residence, and a passport-sized photograph.
Forms for Various Purposes
The ECI has issued specific forms to streamline the voter list update process:
- Form 6: For adding new voters and NRIs; can also be used to link Aadhaar to voter ID.
- Form 7: For deleting names from the list.
- Form 8: For updating address, personal details, and EPIC card information.
Residents can also visit polling booth officers, AC offices, and Tahsildar offices for assistance. Additional information can be accessed through [www.ecokarnataka.kar.nic.in](http://www.ecokarnataka.kar.nic.in), [https://voters.eci.gov.in](https://voters.eci.gov.in), and [www.dk.nic.in](http://www.dk.nic.in). Queries can also be directed to the ECI’s toll-free number 1950, as stated by the Dakshina Kannada District Commissioner’s office in the official release.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
