SIR: CEO Indicates Possibility Of Extension Of Enumeration Phase
In wake of complaints that a large number of voters in Hyderabad district had not received enumeration forms, though data released by the poll panel showed the exercise was nearly complete, Sudharshan Reddy said strict directions would be issued to district electoral officers (DEO) to strengthen the monitoring mechanism and to issue clear instructions to the BLOs to ensure all the voters are covered
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C. Sudharshan Reddy on Friday indicated the possibility of extending the dates for submission of enumeration forms and the ongoing phase of enumeration as part of the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Telangana.
Responding to queries from the media during a 'Meet the Press' event here, he said if that if the booth-level officers (BLOs) and electoral registration officers (EROs) requested the Election Commission of India, and based on the feedback from the state, the poll panel may extend the date. “This does not come under our jurisdiction. The Election Commission of India will take a call. We will let it know about the situation when the ECI asks (about the progress),” he clarified.
In wake of complaints that a large number of voters in Hyderabad district had not received enumeration forms, though data released by the poll panel showed the exercise was nearly complete, Sudharshan Reddy said strict directions would be issued to district electoral officers (DEO) to strengthen the monitoring mechanism and to issue clear instructions to the BLOs to ensure all the voters are covered.
Explaining why the SIR process was lagging in urban pockets like Hyderabad, Sudharshan Reddy acknowledged that BLOs were facing problems on ground while identifying voters. He said that unlike in rural areas, there were issues like mix-up of addresses and choc-a-bloc houses in the cities and towns and BLOs were mostly unfamiliar with the area where they were deployed.
“Even during the mapping phase, they struggled to locate the houses. For most BLOs, the area in which they are working is new. Once again clear directions will be given to the officials and to the Hyderabad DEO to increase monitoring,” the CEO said.
Over the issue of citizens holding voter IDs in different states, Sudharshan Reddy clarified that by the time the SIR process was complete, no voter would have two votes, even in different states. “From time to time the ECI runs a software to detect DSEs (demographically similar entries). Even during the ongoing process, the ECI runs this software. Once an voter is identified as having two votes, even in different states, he or she would have to face inquiry by the ERO,” he said.
“Voters will be given a choice and the EPIC details of one card will be removed from the electoral roll. If DSE finds two votes with a voter after the SIR, the voter will get a notice and may end up facing punishment of up to one year in jail, besides a penalty,” Sudharshan Reddy explained.
Replying to a question over missing data of SIR-2002 in several booths of Fatehnagar in Balanagar under Kukatpally division, Sudharshan Reddy clarified the voters would receive notice based on which poll officials would take action. “Separate instructions will be given in such instances,” he clarified.
Over alleged presence of ‘Rohingya voters’ in the city, Sudharshan Reddy made it clear that even if they had received voter IDs in recent years, they would receive notices as they would not figure in the 2002 SIR list. “EROs have been given separate instructions over the areas which are in our focus. We have asked the officials to take extra care while dealing with these cases,” the official added.
