2 weeks ago
Telangana to seek legal opinion on EC's FRC ID rejection
Telangana, a state in India, is updating its official list of voters.
This update is called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR for short.
A new government document, the Family Register Certificate, or FRC, will not be accepted as proof of identity during this update.
That is the decision of the Election Commission, the group that looks after elections.
The state government disagrees and says it will ask lawyers for their opinion.
An advisor named Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the FRC is an official document made by the government after checking people's details.
He said making voters use extra documents could cause hardship for poor families.
The state says it will not weaken real identity checks, just make them easier for genuine voters.
The Family Register was launched last month, and certificates can be obtained through the MeeSeva government service.
The Telangana government will seek a legal opinion on the Election Commission's clarification that the Family Register Certificate (FRC) is not valid ID proof for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Advisor on minority affairs Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the state respects the EC's constitutional authority but the reasoning requires careful legal examination.
The government will explore all legally permissible options so poor and vulnerable genuine voters are not subjected to avoidable hardship during the SIR.
Election authorities said the EC informed the Chief Electoral Officer's office that the Family Register Certificate will not be accepted as identity proof during the SIR.
The statewide electronic Telangana Family Register and FRC issuance through MeeSeva were launched last month to facilitate citizen services and verify family particulars.
- Who
- Telangana government's Advisor on minority affairs Mohammed Ali Shabbir and the Election Commission (EC)
- What
- The Telangana government will seek a legal opinion on the EC's clarification that the Family Register Certificate (FRC) is not valid ID proof for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- When
- The advisor's statement came on Thursday; election authorities announced the EC's clarification on Wednesday.
- Why
- To find a legally sustainable solution that eases verification for genuine voters, especially poor and vulnerable sections, while preserving the integrity of the electoral rolls.
State Government Position
Election Commission Position
Acceptance of FRC as voter ID proof
State Government Position
The Family Register Certificate should be accepted because it draws on a state-authenticated government database and would make verification easier for genuine, especially poor, citizens.
Election Commission Position
The Family Register Certificate will not be accepted as valid identity proof during the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll.
Equating FRC with ration cards
State Government Position
Ration cards are official government-issued documents created after a prescribed process and verification, so they should not be viewed with suspicion when used for electoral verification.
Election Commission Position
The EC's clarification holds that the FRC, like the ration card in the state's view, is not valid ID proof for the SIR, a reasoning the state says needs careful legal examination.
Key facts
- State
- Telangana
- Announcement
- State to seek legal opinion on the EC's FRC clarification
- EC decision
- Family Register Certificate not accepted as ID proof for the SIR of electoral rolls
- Communicated to
- Chief Electoral Officer's office
- FRC launch
- Last month, via the statewide electronic Telangana Family Register
- Issuance channel
- MeeSeva platform
- Purpose of Family Register
- Citizen service delivery, uniformity in verifying family particulars, and readily accessible records
- Government advisor
- Mohammed Ali Shabbir (minority affairs)
Quotes
Mohammed Ali Shabbir
Advisor on minority affairs for Telangana state government
“Ration cards are not casual or private documents. They are issued by the government after a prescribed process and verification.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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