By Sunil sonker
Mussoorie, 11 Aug: Politics has heated up in Mussoorie regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Questioning the government and the electoral system over this entire process, the Congress has alleged that new hardships are being created for the general public in the name of rectifying the voter list. The Congress has raised a major concern regarding the potential removal of young voters’ names from the list.
On Tuesday, the Mussoorie Mahila Congress held a press conference to highlight alleged flaws in the SIR process. Mahila Congress President Jasbir Kaur stated that while young voters are struggling to get their names added to the list, existing voters are being asked to produce documents that were difficult to preserve over such a long period. The Congress highlighted the difficulties faced by elderly voters during the SIR process as a key issue. Jasbir Kaur noted that many elderly citizens are being asked for records dating back 50 to 60 years. She questioned how individuals could possibly possess records from an era when there were no systems for keeping documents safe or organised—let alone digitised. She pointed out that the elderly are being forced to make repeated rounds of various government offices just to prove their own names and identities. The Congress demanded a humanitarian approach in such cases and called for verification based on alternative documents. During the press conference, the Congress identified the issue of young voters as the most sensitive aspect of the SIR process. Jasbir Kaur alleged that there is a risk of young voters’ names being deleted during this procedure. She stated that there are a large number of young people who have reached voting age but whose names are not registered on the electoral roll. The Congress argues that any errors during verification and mapping could directly impact new voters. The party emphasised that the removal of an eligible person’s name from the voter list is not merely an administrative error but a direct infringement of their right to vote.
The Mahila Congress President also alleged that, while notices are being sent to many individuals, they often fail to specify the clear grounds for objection. This leaves people struggling to understand exactly which documents or proofs they need to submit. The Congress claimed that many voters are facing difficulties due to improper mapping of the SIR (Systematic Information of Residents). The party urged election officials to make the process transparent and ensure that notices contain clear information. Jasbir Kaur also raised questions regarding the functioning of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), alleging that they are under immense workload pressure and lack adequate time and support. The Congress maintains that if BLOs were provided with sufficient time and resources, the verification process could be completed more accurately. The party clarified that it is not opposed to the revision of the electoral roll. While acknowledging the necessity of removing fake or ineligible names, the party insisted on safeguards to ensure that genuine, eligible voters do not fall victim to procedural flaws. The Mahila Congress demanded that the government and the Election Commission simplify the process for the elderly, the youth, and other voters. They urged that individuals receiving notices be informed of the specific reasons and given adequate time to respond. Jasbir Kaur also suggested linking voter identity cards with Aadhaar to streamline the voter identification process. She noted that the use of modern technology could make the electoral roll more organised and spare people the hassle of repeatedly searching for old documents. They stated that the objective of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) should be to strengthen the electoral roll and ensure transparency, rather than entangling eligible voters—whose names are already on the list—in the process. The Congress warned that, if the names of youths or other eligible voters are removed during the SIR, the party would oppose the move and raise the issue prominently before the Election Commission.
Bhagwati Prasad Kukreti, Mahimanand, Tahmina Khan, Rubina Anjum, and Riya were present on the occasion.
