The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that notices being issued to voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi do not, by themselves, mean that their names will be removed from the voter list.
The clarification comes after notices were issued to several prominent voters, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and other political leaders and senior officials.
Why Are Notices Being Issued?
- According to the Election Commission, system generated notices are being sent to voters whose records fall into categories requiring verification.
- These include voters whose names could not be linked with the electoral roll from the previous intensive revision and voters whose records contain logical discrepancies in the linking process.
- The ECI said the purpose of the notices is to enable voters to correct or verify their information and submit supporting documents through the prescribed process.
Notice Does Not Mean Deletion
- The Election Commission has specifically stressed that a notice should not be interpreted as a decision to remove a person’s name from the electoral roll.
- The Commission said no voter can be removed without giving the elector an opportunity to be heard and passing a proper, reasoned and appealable order.
- This means that voters who receive notices have an opportunity to respond and provide relevant documents before any final decision is taken.
33 Lakh Voters Reportedly Received Notices
- Election officials have said that approximately 33.13 lakh electors in Delhi received notices because of discrepancies identified during the SIR process.
- The notices are part of the claims and objections stage of the revision. Officials are examining documents and verifying voter records before finalising the electoral rolls.
Several Prominent Names Appear on Notice Lists
- The issue attracted attention after notices were issued to a number of well known political figures and senior government officials.
- Among those reported to have received notices are S. Jaishankar, L.K. Advani, Arvind Kejriwal, Kapil Sibal, former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and several other senior officials. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s entry was reportedly validated after verification of her documents.
- The appearance of a person’s name on a notice list therefore does not itself establish that the person is ineligible to vote.
What Should Voters Do After Receiving a Notice?
- Voters who receive an SIR notice should check the reason mentioned in the notice and provide the required information or supporting documents to the appropriate Electoral Registration Officer.
- The Delhi CEO has also clarified that the document list attached to notices is not necessarily exhaustive. Relevant documents can be considered by the Electoral Registration Officer on a case by case basis during the hearing process.
- The ECI’s voter services portal also provides an online facility for voters to submit documents against an SIR notice.
Verification Process Continues
- The Election Commission has said the verification process is continuing and that eligible voters will be included in the final electoral roll after due verification.
- The latest clarification is aimed at addressing concerns and misinformation surrounding the SIR notices and making clear that receiving a notice is part of the verification process, not a final deletion order.
Business Galaxy: The ECI’s clarification specifically concerns the Delhi SIR process. A notice should be treated as a request for verification or response, while any actual deletion requires due process and an appealable order.
