92 lakh notices, three different numbers
Telangana’s SIR process has generated a civic scramble, but the Election Commission’s rules do not say that missing one hearing automatically deletes a voter.
Different counts have emerged for notices issued under Telangana’s Special Intensive Revision.
Telangana’s Special Intensive Revision has put roughly 92.87 lakh electors under notice, according to multiple reports. The exact number, however, is already travelling in three versions: 92,87,577, 92,88,112 and the rounded 92.88 lakh. The paperwork appears to be revising itself.
The Election Commission’s May 14 instruction says notices must go to electors whose details cannot be linked to the 2002 intensive-revision roll, or whose linking contains discrepancies. It requires an inquiry and an opportunity to be heard before an elector found ineligible can be excluded from the final roll. It does not say that missing one hearing automatically deletes a name.
A September 24 report, citing unnamed state Chief Electoral Office sources, said 85.46 lakh notices had been served, around 38 lakh voters had attended hearings and 7.41 lakh notices remained undelivered. A September 23 report cited different figures: 83.24 lakh served, 9.64 lakh pending delivery and 41.84 lakh notices lapsed. The Telangana CEO’s office has not published a primary figure sheet in the material reviewed here.
The ECI portal allows voters to search the previous roll and submit documents against a notice. Telangana’s reported September 18 change also allows an adult family member to appear before an ERO or AERO for the notice recipient. The final roll is expected on November 9, according to the September 24 report. The numbers are moving faster than the notices.