AIMIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Tuesday raised serious constitutional and administrative concerns regarding SIR (Special Investigation Report / Systematic Inspection Review) during a discussion in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
Participating in the debate, Owaisi clarified that he is not opposed to SIR as a concept, but expressed strong reservations about its implementation, scope and possible misuse. He cautioned that the manner in which SIR is being carried out has created fear and uncertainty among citizens, particularly among Indian Muslims, who continue to associate such verification drives with the earlier CAA and NRC debates.
Referring to observations made by the High Court, Owaisi stressed that any verification or investigation mechanism must strictly adhere to constitutional safeguards and due process of law. He highlighted that in several states, birth certificates are not being issued properly, especially to people from poorer and marginalised backgrounds, which could lead to genuine citizens facing difficulties when documentation is demanded.
Raising a critical concern over the electoral process, the AIMIM leader alleged that instead of safeguarding voters, eligible voters are being removed from electoral rolls. He urged the state government to convene an all party meeting to build consensus and ensure that no lawful voter is disenfranchised under SIR-related exercises.
Owaisi also questioned the authority of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), asking how a BLO can determine whether a person is a citizen or not. He asserted that BLOs do not have the legal mandate to decide citizenship, and warned that such administrative overreach could result in serious injustice if left unchecked.
Emphasising the need for transparency, Owaisi called upon the government to clearly define the purpose, limits and safeguards of SIR, and to reassure citizens that the exercise will not be used to target any community.
He concluded by stating that governance must be rooted in Constitutional values, Fairness and Inclusivity, and that protecting the rights of every eligible voter is essential for strengthening democracy in Telangana.
