Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena has urged citizens to report information about narcotics trafficking through helpline 1933.
Verification under Special Intensive Revision will follow ECI rules; eligible voters can submit Forms 6 and 8 with supporting documents by September 30
KURUKSHETRA/PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Vishram Kumar Meena has assured eligible voters that they need not have any unnecessary apprehension regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the district. He said that a voter’s name cannot be deleted from the electoral roll merely because the voter’s name or details do not match the electoral roll prepared during the previous Special Intensive Revision or because an old electoral record is not readily available.
Meena said concerns have been raised among members of the public after notices were issued in cases where discrepancies were found during the matching process. Some voters have expressed apprehension that such notices could eventually lead to deletion of their names from the electoral roll. Clarifying the matter, he said the inability to match a voter’s details with the previous revision record, by itself, cannot be treated as a ground for removing an eligible voter’s name. Protecting the voting rights of every eligible citizen, he said, remains the highest priority.
The Deputy Commissioner said particular concerns have been expressed by people who moved to Haryana several years ago, have been residing here for a long period and have regularly exercised their franchise from their present place of residence. In some cases, voters are being asked to provide older electoral records or other supporting documents, but such records may no longer be in their possession or accessible to them because of the passage of time.
He clarified that the objective of the SIR exercise is to make electoral rolls accurate, clean and error-free. The eligibility of individual voters will be examined according to the procedure prescribed by the Election Commission of India and on the basis of documents available under the applicable rules. He appealed to citizens not to believe rumours or misleading information regarding the revision process.
According to the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India, voters whose details could not be matched with the electoral roll of the previous Special Intensive Revision will have to submit prescribed documents as evidence of their eligibility. The documentation requirements will depend on the voter’s date and place of birth.
A person born in India before July 1, 1987, can submit any one of the specified documents relating to themselves. A person born in India between July 1, 1987 and December 2, 2004, will be required to provide the prescribed document relating to themselves and one of their parents. Those born in India after December 2, 2004, will have to submit the prescribed documents relating to themselves, their father and their mother.
Meena further said that where the parents of a person were not Indian citizens at the time of the person’s birth, copies of their valid visa and passport at the time of birth would be required. A person born outside India will have to produce a birth registration certificate issued by the concerned Indian Mission. Those who acquired Indian citizenship through registration or naturalisation will be required to attach the relevant citizenship registration certificate.
The list of indicative documents prescribed for the exercise includes identity cards or pension payment orders issued to regular employees or pensioners of the Central or State Government and Public Sector Undertakings. Identity cards, certificates or other documents issued by government departments, local authorities, banks, post offices, Life Insurance Corporation or Public Sector Undertakings may also be used where applicable.
Other documents in the prescribed list include birth certificates issued by competent authorities, passports, matriculation or educational certificates issued by recognised boards or universities, permanent residence certificates, forest rights certificates and caste certificates issued by competent authorities for Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or other recognised categories. The list also includes the National Register of Citizens, wherever applicable, family registers prepared by State or local authorities and government-issued land or house allotment certificates.
The Deputy Commissioner said instructions issued by the Election Commission of India will apply in matters concerning Aadhaar. He urged all eligible voters to carefully check their names and details in the draft electoral roll and complete the required formalities within the prescribed deadline.
Eligible persons whose names are missing from the electoral roll can submit Form 6, while Form 8 can be used where corrections are required in existing electoral-roll entries. Both forms can be submitted to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer or Booth Level Officer by September 30.
Meena said voters seeking inclusion or transfer of their names will also have to submit the prescribed declaration along with Form 6 or Form 8. The declaration requires information relating to the details of the voter or their parents or grandparents in the electoral roll prepared during the previous Special Intensive Revision.
In cases where an eligible person does not have access to the relevant old electoral-roll record or details, the required documents corresponding to their year of birth should be attached with Form 6 or Form 8. This, he said, would enable the eligibility verification process to be undertaken according to the prescribed procedure.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to residents to remain cautious against misinformation and to rely only on authorised sources for information about the SIR process. He advised voters to verify their names in the electoral roll and submit all required forms and documents within the stipulated period rather than relying on rumours circulating in the public domain.
For any difficulty or clarification relating to documents, registration or the SIR process, voters can approach their respective Booth Level Officer, Electoral Registration Officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer. They can also seek assistance through the voter helpline 1950.
Meena reiterated that the Special Intensive Revision is being conducted transparently and strictly in accordance with the rules and directions laid down by the Election Commission of India. He assured eligible voters that the exercise is intended to strengthen the accuracy of electoral rolls and that no eligible voter will be deprived of the right to vote merely because of a mismatch with an old electoral record or the non-availability of an older record.
