Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed not to use the 2015 voters list for the ensuing Local Self Government (LSG) polls.

The HC issued the direction after approving the United Democratic Front’s appeal challenging the Election Commission order to use the 2015 votes list for the ensuing LSG polls.

The HC found that using the 2015 voters list for the ensuing LSG polls was wrong. Nullifying the EC order, the HC directed to conduct the LSG polls using the 2019 voters list.

“Specific reasons are needed to remove a person’s name from the voters list. There must not be a situation where a person, who is already in the voters list, need to enrol his name to vote in the LSG polls. Such an action will not do justice to voters,” the HC clarified.

Earlier, the UDF had approached the court challenging the EC decision. However, a single bench ordered that it cannot interfere in the EC’s decision. The Congress and Indian union Muslim League approached the division bench challenging the single bench order.

Earlier, the Congress had clarified that around 30 lakh voters will be omitted if the 2015 voters list was used for the ensuing LSG polls. Hence they approached the HC.

If the EC does not file an appeal against the division bench order, it will have to issue a new order based on the latest HC verdict.