Archive · 24 Aug 2026
SIR Voter Verification System Draws Criticism From Senior Officials
India is checking its voter lists through a process called SIR.
Some well-known former officials say the process has caused them problems.
Former ambassador Navdeep Suri said he was asked for more proof of citizenship in Punjab.
He already had several important documents.
Retired Army commander Kamal Jit Singh said he received several notices in Haryana.
Former Navy chief Arun Prakash also received a notice in Goa.
The critics say the voter app is too strict when names or family links do not match older lists.
They believe government systems should be connected to make verification easier.
They worry that genuine voters could face harassment or lose their ability to vote.
Former diplomat Navdeep Suri said he faced difficulty proving citizenship during Punjab’s SIR despite holding multiple official documents.
Suri said officials asked for his passport after discrepancies were found with the 2003 electoral roll.
Retired Army commander Kamal Jit Singh said he received three Haryana notices and submitted several documents without resolving the issue.
Former Navy chief Arun Prakash criticized the process after receiving a Goa notice related to missing details from a previous SIR.
Critics said the ECI’s app should better use existing identity records and prevent harassment or possible disenfranchisement of genuine voters.
- Who
- Former diplomat Navdeep Suri, retired Army commander Kamal Jit Singh, former Navy chief Arun Prakash, and the Election Commission of India’s voter-verification system are central to the report.
- What
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and its voter-verification app are facing criticism over notices, document demands, and difficulties matching older voter records.
- When
- Suri described a recent Punjab experience; Singh said he had faced the Haryana process for two months; Prakash said he received notices in January.
- Where
- The reported issues involve electoral-roll verification in Punjab, Haryana, and Goa.
- Why
- Critics say the system does not adequately connect existing identity records and can burden genuine voters when names, surnames, or family links do not match older lists.
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls
- Agency
- Election Commission of India
- States mentioned
- Punjab, Haryana, and Goa
- Older records cited
- The 2003 list in Punjab and the 2002 list referenced for the app
- Navdeep Suri’s issue
- He said he was asked to provide his passport after discrepancies with the 2003 list
- Kamal Jit Singh’s issue
- He said he received three notices in Haryana and submitted multiple documents
- Arun Prakash’s issue
- He received a Goa notice stating that mandatory particulars linked to the previous SIR were missing