SDPI sets up SIR legal cell in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has stepped up its campaign against what it describes as the possible exclusion of eligible voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, announcing the activation of a dedicated legal cell in Mangaluru city district.

SDPI Mangaluru city district general secretary Jamal Jokatte said the party would not remain silent if eligible voters were subjected to what it termed arbitrary questioning, confusion or deletion of names from the electoral rolls in the name of SIR.

“SIR should not become a political instrument to weaken the rights of eligible citizens in the name of cleaning up electoral rolls,” Jokatte said. According to the party, several voters who have received SIR notices are unclear about the documents they are required to produce and are anxious about the hearing process and whether their names will remain on the electoral roll. Jokatte said the authorities should make the process transparent and voter-friendly and give every eligible citizen a reasonable opportunity to establish their eligibility. He particularly referred to poor people, workers, migrant workers, tenants, senior citizens and those facing difficulties with documentation, saying they should not be disadvantaged because of procedural complications. “Deleting the name of an eligible voter is not merely an administrative exercise; it directly affects the person’s right to vote,” he said. The SDPI’s SIR Legal Cell will provide assistance to voters who receive notices, including guidance on submitting replies and declarations, information on required documents, help in filing claims and objections and guidance on appearing before Electoral Registration Officers.

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The Hans India