Election Commission Clarifies Eligibility Requirements for Former Naval Chief in Goa

Admiral Arun Prakash raised concerns about his voter eligibility verification in Goa, prompting a response from the Election Commission. The commission clarified that his submitted forms lacked essential information, leading to his classification as an 'unmapped voter.' With over 1.8 lakh individuals facing similar issues, the commission is conducting hearings to finalize the voter list. Prakash has suggested improvements to the process, including better training for booth-level officers. This situation highlights ongoing challenges in voter registration across the state and beyond.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 13, 2026, 10:18 IST

Clarification from the Election Commission

Following remarks from former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash regarding his eligibility verification by the Election Commission during the special electoral roll revision in Goa, the commission provided clarification on Monday. They stated that the enumeration forms submitted by Prakash were lacking essential information.

Prakash, who has made Goa his home post-retirement, was marked as 'unmapped' on the draft electoral rolls released on December 16, as reported by a local media outlet.

In Goa, there are approximately 1.8 lakh individuals classified as 'unmapped voters.' These individuals have their names listed in the draft voter list but were not included in the 2002 electoral rolls, which was the last time a comprehensive revision occurred. To secure their names on the final voter list, they must present relevant documents during hearings scheduled before the final list is published on February 14.

Prakash's Experience with the Election Commission

On Sunday, Admiral Prakash shared that he and his wife, Kumkum, received notices from the Election Commission, despite a booth-level officer visiting their residence multiple times. He noted that the officer did not request any additional information during the enumeration process.

The 82-year-old retired officer expressed concern that he and his 78-year-old wife were instructed to appear before Election Commission officials on separate dates at a location 18 kilometers from their home.

In a social media post on Monday, Prakash suggested that the Election Commission should consider revising the enumeration form to include more pertinent details, such as 'occupation' and 'location at last SIR.'

Recommendations for Improvement

Prakash also recommended that the Election Commission hire fully trained youth as booth-level officers to enhance citizen interaction and awareness.

The Election Commission clarified that the forms submitted by Prakash lacked mandatory details related to the previous special intensive revision, including the elector's name, photo ID number, and other essential identifiers. This omission hindered the electoral officials from linking the submitted forms with the existing electoral roll database.

Current Status of Voter Registration in Goa

In addition to the unmapped voters, over 1 lakh names were removed from the draft electoral rolls in Goa due to being marked as deceased, relocated, or absent.

The special intensive revision of electoral rolls is also taking place in 11 other states and Union Territories. In Bihar, where the revision was completed ahead of the Assembly elections in November, around 47 lakh voters were excluded from the final electoral roll published on September 30, raising concerns about the potential removal of eligible voters.