Amid flak, EC extends SIR schedule by week

Under attack from opposition parties amid reports of deaths of booth-level officers (BLOs) across nine states and three union territories — where the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is taking place — allegedly due to work-related stress and pressure of tight deadlines, the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday extended the schedule of the ongoing exercise by a week.

Under the revised plan, the enumeration drive and polling station rationalisation, earlier expected to end by December 4, will now continue till December 11.

The change in the timelines also follows a feedback from the field units since the SIR began, including delays in form collection and verification in several districts.

The preparation of the “control table” and the draft roll will now be held from December 12 to 15. The draft roll will be published on December 16.

The old schedule had placed the draft publication around December 9 across states.

The period for filing claims and objections has also been aligned with the new dates. Instead of closing on January 8, as originally planned, the window will now remain open till January 15.

Verification, hearings and disposal of claims and objection, earlier slated to finish by January 31, will now stretch to February 7.

The EC has shifted the last leg as well. The state authorities must complete checks on health parameters of the rolls and seek clearance for publication by February 10.

The final rolls will be published on February 14, a week later than the original February 7 target.

The revised dates apply to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The new order has also been circulated to all chief electoral officers (CEOs) and state administrations with instructions to update all field teams and implement the revised schedule.