Former Navy Chief Arun Prakash Questions Voter Registration Process
Notice Issued to Admiral Arun Prakash
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to retired Admiral Arun Prakash under the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of the voter list, requiring him to appear in person to verify his identity and residence. Admiral Prakash, who has been residing permanently in Goa for several years post-retirement, has raised concerns about this process and emphasized the need for electoral reforms.
He stated that if the SIR forms are not collecting the necessary information, they should be revised.
Concerns Over Voter Registration
A senior official mentioned that Admiral Prakash's details have not been updated in the voter list since 2002, placing him in the 'unmapped' category. On social media platform 'X', some users questioned why the SIR team needed more information when the former Navy chief's Pension Payment Order (PPO) and life certificate are already available in the government database.
Agna Cleetus, the District Election Officer of South Goa, stated that this situation is common, and Admiral Prakash falls under the 'unmapped' category.
Admiral Prakash's Response
Cleetus mentioned that she would review the former officer's documents on Monday and that the authorities would reach out to him. Admiral Prakash, who was awarded the Vir Chakra for his role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, has been asked to appear before the election officer to establish his identity under the SIR 'hearing notice'.
Following the online discussions regarding the notice, Admiral Prakash wrote on 'X', stating, 'I do not require any special privileges, nor have I ever made such a demand since my retirement 20 years ago. My wife and I filled out the necessary SIR forms and were pleased to see our names in the draft voter list for Goa 2026. However, we will comply with the ECI notice.'
Further Clarifications from Admiral Prakash
In another post, he pointed out that the SIR forms should be revised if they are not gathering the required information. He also mentioned that the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) had met with them three times and could have requested additional information. 'We are 82 and 78 years old and have been asked to appear on two different dates, 18 kilometers away,' he added.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel T.S. Anand commented on the post, suggesting that a software glitch might have caused the issue. He noted that any citizen with proper documentation could present themselves, and in Admiral Prakash's case, his PPO or veteran card should suffice as proof.
Importance of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
According to the Election Commission, the objectives of SIR include:
Removing Duplicate Registrations: Ensuring that an individual's name does not appear in two different constituencies.
Deleting Names of Deceased Individuals: Keeping the voter list updated to prevent fraudulent voting.
Address Verification: Confirming that voters reside at the address where they are registered.
Conclusion
While verification is essential to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the notice issued to a respected figure like Admiral Arun Prakash highlights flaws in the system. This case illustrates the need for the Election Commission to modernize its ground processes to be more user-friendly, even in the era of 'Digital India.'