Telangana SIR: CEO makes speaking orders mandatory for rejections

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C Sudharsan Reddy has directed election officials to issue speaking orders with clear reasons for rejecting voter applications during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

He has also instructed officials to verify documents properly, clear pending applications and complete delayed notice deliveries and hearings without further delay.

The directions were issued during a video conference on November 2 attended by the GHMC Commissioner, District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and other officials.

Speaking orders mandatory during Telangana SIR

The CEO reviewed pending Form-6, 6A, 7 and 8 applications and expressed concern over the backlog in several Assembly Constituencies.

He instructed officials to process all pending applications within the next few days. Before rejecting any application, they must examine the supporting documents and issue speaking orders explaining the specific reasons for the decision.

The review found that delivery of SIR notices was still pending in several constituencies, with the number of undelivered notices ranging from one to 706.

Secunderabad Cantonment, Malakpet, Sanathnagar, Patancheru, Chandrayangutta, and Amberpet were among the constituencies with significant backlogs.

Hearings were yet to be completed in 54 Assembly Constituencies. The number of pending cases ranged from one to 8,749, with Goshamahal, Secunderabad Cantonment, Malakpet, Sanathnagar, Patancheru, Chandrayangutta, and Amberpet reporting the highest numbers.

The CEO directed Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) to complete the pending notice deliveries and hearings quickly in line with Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.

No extension for Form-18

The CEO also reviewed enrolment in the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad and Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduate Constituencies.

He noted that graduate voter registrations were lower than the 2021 figures. There is a gap of 2,34,997 applications. Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Hanumakonda were identified as districts with a major shortfall.

Officials were asked to increase publicity about Form-18 registration through print, electronic and social media. The disposal of pending Form-18 applications must also be completed within three days. The CEO clarified that there would be no extension for MLC applications.

Graduates who cannot submit provisional certificates or marks memos because of pending college payments should not face unnecessary difficulty. Officials have been instructed to contact the concerned colleges and obtain the required documents for verification.

The CEO also directed officials not to insist on Aadhaar numbers for Form-18 applications. If an applicant provides an Aadhaar number, it must be masked before publication.

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