Hyderabad district officials claim 100% distribution of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) forms, yet on‑ground reports reveal major gaps. Numerous Booth Level Officers (BLOs) failed to conduct house‑to‑house visits, casting doubt on the authenticity of the reported numbers.
Key Takeaways
- Hyderabad's claimed 100% SIR form distribution does not match field reality.
- Many Booth Level Officers (BLOs) did not perform mandatory house‑to‑house distribution.
- Pressure from higher officials appears to be driving inflated reporting.
Hyderabad District Election Officer and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner R.V. Karnan maintains that every Booth Level Officer (BLO) was required to visit households at least once in the past 20 days, as stipulated by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) guidelines. Ground sources, however, report that a sizable number of BLOs simply placed forms at school grounds, Resident Welfare Association (RWA) offices, or community halls, leaving voters to collect them themselves.
Background of the SIR Process
The SIR exercise is intended to cleanse the electoral roll by removing deceased, absent, or migrated voters and adding newly eligible citizens. The process relies on physically handing out enumeration forms to every household, which are later scanned and uploaded into the electronic voter database. Achieving a true 100% distribution across all 15 Hyderabad constituencies would require every household to have been visited and a form handed over.
Discrepancy Between Reported and Actual Distribution
Official records boast a 100% distribution rate, yet several BLOs admit they have not visited many homes. An anonymous officer disclosed, “I reported 100% distribution, but I still have 20% of the forms undelivered.” This admission suggests that figures are being inflated to meet targets set by senior election officials.
Administrative Pressure and Potential Sanctions
Commissioner Karnan has suspended several Assistant Electoral Registration Officials (AEROs) and issued show‑cause notices to others for sluggish progress in the SIR rollout. Sources indicate that the intense pressure from the Commissioner and Election Registration Officers is prompting supervisors to manipulate data rather than improve field performance.
Implications for Future Elections
If the trend of overstated distribution continues, the credibility of Hyderabad’s electoral roll could be severely compromised, undermining public confidence in forthcoming elections. Civil society groups and independent monitors must demand greater transparency and accountability in the SIR process to safeguard democratic integrity.