The EC however has not fixed any specific time for displaying the updated supplementary list for public inspection and filing objections before it is printed.

The decision came yesterday as the field level staff could not complete the task of door-to-door visits within the stipulated time -- July 20 to August 10.

The field workers will now continue visiting door to door until August 20. The time for preparing the supplementary list has also been extended by 10 days until August 30.

The list is being updated based on applications received for inclusion and deletion of names from the existing voter list prepared in year 2000.

The EC first decided to complete the door-to-door visits by July 30, but later extended the deadline to August 10. The time for compiling the data was also extended to August 20.

The EC took the decision yesterday after reviewing the door-to-door visits, progress of which is very poor in the capital. Even the visit is yet to begin in many rural areas.

The EC Secretariat however claimed 1.22 crore people have so far applied for including their names and 14.46 lakh applications have been received for deletion of names.

Officials at the EC Secretariat said the field level officials would be able to reach over 30 lakh people eligible for being voters within the extended time.

As allegations have been raised that underage people are being allowed to apply for registering their names as voters in many areas, the EC warned the field level staff of punitive actions in case any underage people is listed or if anyone is listed twice.

Though no specific time was allocated for displaying the updated voter list, the EC secretary yesterday said the updated list would be kept open for public inspection as soon as the field work and compilation of data are completed in any district.

"The updated voter list will be kept open for people's inspection till August 30," he said.

The list will be made available at the offices of the registration officers, assistant registration officers and Union Parishad and the ward offices of municipalities and city corporations, the EC Secretariat said in a press release yesterday.

"The objections, if filed any, will be resolved by August 30 and then we will start the voter list printing process from September 1," he said.

The existing electoral laws provide for allocating 15 days for people's inspection and raising objections regarding the draft voter list before its publication.

But some district election officers working as registration officers for updating the voter list said the time allocated for public inspection of the list is inadequate. They feared that they would not be able to display the updated voter list within the short time.

"To keep the updated voter list at the designated places including our offices, we will have to make several copies of the list. But the EC secretariat is yet to allocate any fund for it," another district election officer said.

ORDER ON OFFICE DISCIPLINE
The EC Secretariat yesterday issued an office order asking its officers and employees to attend office in time and not to be at others' office rooms without any work.

Punitive action will be taken if any official fails to turn up by 9:00am and does not discharge duties at their own office rooms, said the order.

"Some officers and employees do not attend the office in time. This is against the office discipline," a source said quoting the order.