To
The Registrar of Societies,
Office of ADM (North),
DM Office Complex,
Alipur,
Delhi – 110 036.

Subject: Urgent Request to Cancel NAPSWI Governing Body Elections 2024 Due to Procedural Violations, Partiality, and Lack of Transparency

Dear Sir/Madam,

We, the undersigned members of the National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI), respectfully request your immediate intervention regarding the NAPSWI Governing Body Elections for 2024. As a society registered under your jurisdiction (Reg. No. 53647 of 2005, Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860), NAPSWI is obligated to uphold democratic, fair, and transparent practices. Unfortunately, we believe that this election has shown substantial procedural flaws, non-transparent conduct, and evidence of partiality, rendering it undemocratic and exclusionary.

We urge your esteemed office to cancel this election, address these irregularities, and ensure the integrity of NAPSWI’s election process.

 
1. Lack of Transparency in the Appointment of the Returning Officer and Conflict of Interest
The election was overseen by Prof. Ashutosh Pradhan from the Department of Social Work, Central University of Himachal Pradesh. This appointment was not publicly communicated to members, raising questions about the impartiality of the process. Furthermore, Prof. Pradhan has a close professional relationship with Prof. Sanjai Bhatt, a candidate for the President's position, who served as his PhD guide. This affiliation has led to concerns that the process favored certain candidates.

2. Insufficient Time for Candidate and Voter Communication
The final list of candidates was released on October 12, 2024, with voting beginning just two days later on October 13, 2024. This brief timeline limited candidates’ ability to communicate effectively with NAPSWI's national membership, thereby compromising the democratic process.

3. Ambiguities in the Voting Process
Voting was conducted through Google Forms, with emails sent under the subject line “NAPSWI ELECTION 2024,” lacking clarity that it contained a ballot. This approach led to confusion and potentially low voter participation, detracting from the transparency and inclusivity of the process.

4. Absence of Verification and Oversight in Vote Counting
The voting process lacked mechanisms for verification and transparency. No independent third party was involved, and vote counting was entirely managed by the Returning Officer, Prof. Pradhan. This unchecked arrangement prevented candidates and members from verifying the process, severely undermining the credibility of the results.

5. Privacy Concerns Regarding Aadhaar Data
Members were required to submit the last six digits of their Aadhaar numbers as a security measure. This requirement, combined with unclear data-handling policies, raises privacy concerns.

Additional Issues with the Vote Counting Process and Final Notification

Last-Minute Invitation and Biased Venue Selection
An invitation to observe vote counting was issued on October 23, 2024, just two days before the count, which had been unprofessionally rescheduled from October 24 to October 25. The venue, located in Sonipat where Prof. Sanjai Bhatt is a contractual faculty member, limited access for candidates other than those affiliated with him.
Denied Requests for Neutral Vote Verification Location
Candidates requested that vote verification and counting be conducted at Delhi University, NAPSWI’s registered office and the site of the previous vote count in 2020. Despite this reasonable request, counting was conducted elsewhere, furthering perceptions of partiality.
Restricted Access to Vote Counting and Lack of Transparency in Results Announcement
Our representative at Sonipat was not permitted to observe any part of the vote counting process, and only candidates affiliated with Prof. Bhatt were allowed in the counting room. Following the count, Prof. Pradhan briefly appeared to announce results without allowing for verification, in violation of fair practice principles.
 
Request for Immediate Action

Given these substantial procedural violations, we respectfully request that your office take the following actions:

Cancel the NAPSWI Governing Body Elections 2024 to ensure integrity in leadership selection.
Appoint an independent authority to oversee a new election, conducted with fairness and transparency.
Implement a verifiable voting system with secure communication, clear eligibility, and equal access for all members.
Ensure voter data privacy through secure handling of personal information in compliance with data protection norms.
We trust that your intervention will restore integrity and trust in NAPSWI’s election processes, upholding its foundational values and protecting members' rights.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,
[Signatories]

Copy to: The President of India, The Prime Minister of India, The Home Minister, Government of India, The Lt. Governor, Delhi Union Territory