TDP urges EC to allow sufficient time for voter list revision, asserts enrolled voters need not prove identity again
The suggestions from the BJP ally come amid a political row over the ongoing SIR in Bihar, where its timing, close to the Assembly elections, and the burden of proof on prospective voters in many cases have drawn criticism from opposition parties.
"The SIR's purpose must be clearly defined and limited to electoral-roll correction and inclusion. It should be explicitly communicated that the exercise is not related to citizenship verification, and any field instructions must reflect this distinction," a TDP delegation told the EC.
Batting for the "presumption of inclusion", it said voters who are already enrolled in the most recent certified electoral rolls should not be required to re-establish their eligibility unless specific and verifiable reasons are recorded.
Citing a Supreme Court judgment, it said that the prior inclusion of a person in the electoral rolls creates a presumption of validity and that any deletion must be preceded by a valid inquiry.
"The burden of proof lies with the ERO or objector, not the voter, especially when the name exists in the official roll," the delegation, which included TDP's parliamentary party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and state president Palla Srinivasa Rao, said in its submission.
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an hour ago
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Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Cybersecurity Public Policy PGDM Degree Healthcare Others Data Analytics MBA CXO Artificial Intelligence Finance healthcare Project Management Data Science Operations Management others Design Thinking Digital Marketing MCA Data Science Leadership Product Management Technology Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months MIT xPRO CERT-MIT xPRO PGC in Cybersecurity Starts on undefined Get Details Citizenship not affected by exclusion from voter list The Election Commission clarified that a person's citizenship does not end if their name is missing from the electoral rolls. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More 'Under the SIR exercise, citizenship of an individual will not terminate on account of the fact that he/she is held to be ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls,' the affidavit said. 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