Despite EC denial, officials relieved for 2 days, put on SIR-related drive in Punjab

A day after the office of the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer on Sunday termed as “speculative” the news report over the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists in Punjab and other parts of the country, the office of the electoral registration officer — in many parts of Punjab — has asked “departmental officers to be relieved for SIR preparedness”.

Sources say that on Monday, many officers in the field who are in-charge of their constituency-wise voters list have fixed September 16 and 17 as the dates for sparing officers at the block level to be deputed for revising voters lists by comparing the 2003 one with the present one.

On Sunday, The Tribune had highlighted how after Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set the ball rolling for the SIR in flood-affected Punjab and other states. However, in a press release, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office called the news report “speculative in nature”.

Documents now in possession of The Tribune reveal that electoral registration officers in many districts of Punjab have written official letters to schools, colleges, universities and head of departments.

The letter dated September 15 directs them to “relieve Supervisory Officers and Booth-Level Officers for two days” (September 16 and 17) from departmental duties so that they could be “assigned the duty regarding preparation by the Election Commission of India”, pertaining to the ‘SIR- 1.1.2026’.

A senior PCS officer said that they had asked these officers to be deputed in the field to ensure that “all lists and preparedness for the revision of the data as compared to the SIR 2003 with the present list is done”.

“Though no one wants to come on record, the district electoral officers have issued directions for the whole process to be completed smoothly, so that the districts are ready with their lists as and when the chief electoral office, Punjab calls for it,” she said.

Another senior officer confirmed that the SIR-related preparedness is going on at the constituency level and “the work on the lists comparing the 2025 electoral lists with those of 2003 will be compiled soon. We have to ensure that we are ready with the whole list. Especially the constituencies which are new and were not part of the polling process before 2003. In such constituencies, there is revision of voters list and the compilation of data, which is essential”, said the officer.