Poll panel likely to extend SIR process in Telangana by three weeks

HYDERABAD: The SIR process in Telangana is likely to be extended by at least three weeks, with the ECI expected to issue an order shortly, according to highly placed sources in the election commission.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy confirmed to TNIE that he had written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) a few days ago seeking an extension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, but declined to divulge details of the communication.

The development comes days after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also urged the ECI to extend the SIR timeline.

“The ECI sought a response from us and we gave our feedback. Mostly, the SIR process will be extended by three weeks, with publication of the final electoral roll likely to be pushed to November,” sources in the CEO’s office said.

The extension is being sought amid delays in distributing notices. Against more than 92.88 lakh notices to be issued, around 50 lakh are yet to be served. Under the existing schedule, the exercise is to be completed by September 16, with claims and objections to the draft electoral roll also closing that day. The notice process and objections will continue until October 15, and the final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 19.

Revanth sought a four-week extension, saying the existing window for claims and objections was inadequate, particularly for electors missing from the draft roll or listed under the Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate (ASDD) category. He said additional time would help them verify their status and file Form-6 claims where required.

He also sought public reading of draft rolls, adequate time to respond to notices, help desks and a clear list of documents that electors could submit during the SIR process.