SIR, ECI's Voter Verification App Continue To Face Flak
Former diplomat Navdeep Suri said that having served as ambassador of India in several countries including Australia, South Africa, UAE, and possessing all requisite documents, if he could not prove citizenship then how would an ordinary person do
New Delhi: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) voter verification app continue to face flak as diplomats and top defence officials have now joined in the criticism of the system after being left out of the draft lists in Haryana and Punjab.
Former diplomat Navdeep Suri said that having served as ambassador of India in several countries including Australia, South Africa, UAE, and possessing all requisite documents, if he could not prove citizenship then how would an ordinary person do.
“I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But I can't help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!” wrote Mr Suri on X. He is a registered voter in Punjab that is undergoing the SIR process as of now.
“Sharing my experience with SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO (Booth level officer), submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured that everything is in order. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don’t match with SIR in 2003! Spoke with BLO, and was told that I should come and collect the notice. And then come again with unspecified documents that show I am an Indian citizen. Replied that I was not in India in 2003, so they’ve asked for my passport as proof,” Mr Suri explained.
Former Army Commander Lt Gen (Rtd) Kamal Jit Singh wrote that having served Indian Army for 39 yrs, he has been caught up for the last two months “in this great Haryana SIR Jaleba (Jumbo jalebi)”. He has received three notices, submitted many documents but it is “Hum Nahin Manenge” (We will not accept),” wrote Lt Gen Singh on X pointing out the flawed system and harassment that citizens are undergoing.
Joining the debate, former Indian Navy chief Admiral (Rtd) Arun Prakash said that with Aadhaar, PAN, EPIC and periodic KYC checks covering the vast majority of the Indian population, the country should have one of the world’s largest sets of biometric identity data bases. “Could the ECI not have used India’s vast IT talent to connect the dots for SIR and spare us needless and prolonged harassment and possible disenfranchisement?” wrote Adm Prakash on X.
In January, Adm Prakash received notices from Goa election office to show documents to prove identity and link themselves in previous SIR. Goa election office stated that his enumeration form did not contain mandatory particulars related to the previous SIR.
He also suggested improvement in the SIR app to prevent harassment to genuine voters. The SIR application does not accept names if there are spelling mistakes, missing surnames in the previous list or if you cannot link yourself directly to your parents whose name was there in the 2002 list.
