Karnataka: MoS Shobha Karandlaje seeks ECI’s intervention over ‘dilution’ of SIR process

Bengaluru, July 3 (IANS) Referring to developments of distribution of Enumeration Forms at community centres instead of door-to-door exercise in the state, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Friday wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking urgent intervention over the alleged dilution of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.

In the letter, Karandlaje urged the Election Commission to immediately inquire into the allegations regarding the conduct of the SIR exercise across Karnataka and verify whether the mandatory house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers was being replaced or diluted by camp-based verification in community halls and similar venues.

She also requested the Commission to ascertain whether BLOs were being allowed to independently discharge their duties in accordance with its instructions and to ensure that no ineligible person, including any illegal immigrant or non-citizen, was included in the electoral rolls.

The Union Minister further sought directions to all election authorities in Karnataka to strictly adhere to the procedures prescribed by the Election Commission and urged the deployment of independent observers wherever necessary to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing revision process.

Stating that accurate electoral rolls are essential to preserving the sanctity of democratic elections, Karandlaje urged the Chief Election Commissioner to take immediate action to ensure that the Special Intensive Revision in Karnataka is conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Election Commission’s guidelines.

In the letter, Karandlaje expressed concern over the manner in which the ongoing SIR exercise is being conducted across the state, alleging that it has raised widespread apprehension among elected representatives, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), political workers and members of the public.

She alleged that instead of carrying out the mandatory house-to-house verification prescribed by the Election Commission of India, the SIR exercise was being conducted in several places through camps organised at community halls and other common locations.

According to the Union Minister, such a practice defeats the very objective of an intensive electoral roll revision, which is intended to physically verify every elector at his or her ordinary place of residence.

“Any departure from this procedure significantly weakens the safeguards built into the revision process and undermines the integrity of the electoral rolls,” she stated.

Karandlaje further claimed that she had received representations alleging that Booth Level Officers were not being taken into confidence while implementing the SIR exercise and were not being allowed to perform their statutory duties in accordance with the Election Commission’s guidelines.

She alleged that instead of empowering BLOs to undertake proper field verification, the state administrative machinery had adopted procedures that diluted the SIR process, thereby undermining the independence and reliability of the electoral roll revision exercise.

The Union Minister also alleged that there was growing apprehension that the state government was misusing the administrative machinery by diluting the prescribed SIR procedure for political benefit.

She further claimed that the absence of effective door-to-door verification created a serious risk of the inclusion of ineligible persons, including illegal immigrants and others not entitled to be enrolled as electors under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

“Any illegal inclusion of such persons would directly affect the purity of the electoral rolls and erode public confidence in the electoral process,” she wrote.

Referring to the constitutional role of the Election Commission, Karandlaje said the poll body, under Article 324 of the Constitution, has the responsibility of ensuring that the preparation and revision of electoral rolls remain free, fair, transparent and insulated from executive influence.

She contended that any large-scale deviation from the prescribed procedure required immediate scrutiny and corrective intervention by the Commission.

–IANS

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