Minority rights group writes to Gujarat CEO, flags serious issues in SIR process

By A Representative

The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has submitted a formal representation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat, Harit Shukla (IAS), highlighting serious irregularities and difficulties faced by voters in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral roll. The organisation warned that if corrective measures are not taken urgently, a large number of eligible citizens may be deprived of their voting rights.

In the letter, MCC Convener Mujahid Nafees listed several instances from different districts where voters are allegedly being denied due process, including the refusal by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to issue Form 6 for new voter registration, discrepancies in names and addresses, and missing records of identity cards.

According to MCC, residents of Navadra, Bhogat and Rupean Bandar in Devbhumi Dwarka district have complained that BLOs are not providing Form 6, preventing new voters from being added to the rolls. The organisation also pointed to the demolition of hundreds of houses in Harshad village, where around 300 displaced fisher families reportedly find their names missing from the new voter list despite being listed in 2002 and 2007 rolls.

The letter also cites instances from Ahmedabad’s Shahpur and Danilimda areas, where valid voter ID numbers are allegedly reflecting incorrect details, mismatched records, or no data traceable at all.

“We are deeply concerned that these administrative lapses will result in thousands of citizens being unjustly excluded from the voter list,” said Mujahid Nafees, Convener of MCC Gujarat. “People who have lived in Gujarat for generations are being forced to prove their citizenship repeatedly due to errors in government records. The Election Commission must intervene immediately to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.”

The MCC has requested the CEO to:

- Issue clear instructions to all BLOs, especially in Devbhumi Dwarka, to provide Form 6 without obstruction.

- Restore the names of displaced fisher families in Harshad village at their earlier addresses.

- Correct identity and record discrepancies in Ahmedabad’s Shahpur area and prevent harassment of genuine citizens.

- Restore voter IDs of the Danilimda family to the Ahmedabad address and issue their SIR forms.

Calling the matter urgent, the organisation has also forwarded the representation to the Chief Election Commissioner of India in New Delhi.

The MCC urged the authorities to issue immediate directions and inform the organisation of the action taken.

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