What is happening under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana deserves far greater public scrutiny.
The stated objective is simple; ensure that no eligible citizen is excluded and no ineligible person is included. But for many ordinary voters, the experience is becoming anything but simple.
One social-media user described the experience bluntly: “It’s like torture.”
According to the account, only two families in an apartment received approval quickly, while others faced repeated visits demanding additional documents.
Another complaint said officials first collected an Aadhaar copy and later returned asking for a 10th-class certificate, even from an 80-year-old resident.
From where can he get it? How many of those born in 1946 have their 10th class certificates intact?
A netizen sarcastically remarked, “At this rate, they may soon ask a 90-year-old voter to produce a birth certificate. The SIR process is becoming a ridiculous and bungling exercise.”
Another resident questioned why citizens carrying Aadhaar, PAN and voter ID should repeatedly have to prove themselves.
A civil-society representation in Telangana similarly complained that SIR notices often provide only vague reasons such as “not mapped” or “name mismatched.”
It is placing an excessive “burden of proof on voters.”
And here is the central question; If the purpose is to protect the voter list, why should genuine voters feel that they are on trial?
The Election Commission must answer clearly, publish transparent criteria, explain every notice, and guarantee that no genuine voter loses the franchise because bureaucracy became impossible to navigate.
SIR can remove bogus entries without creating genuine voters’ nightmare. Democracy should verify voters, not intimidate them into proving they deserve to vote.
