ALDONA: Congress MLA and advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira has questioned the Election Commission of India’s latest measures announced after concerns were raised over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Ferreira alleged that the measures amounted to an “admission of guilt” and questioned why several steps, including house-to-house verification of voters facing notices over unmapped records or discrepancies, were not implemented during the Goa SIR.
Under the new process, officials will collect supporting documents from voters and upload them on ECINET for examination by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer.
Ferreira also raised concerns over voters being asked to appear at government offices during the Goa SIR, alleging that the process discouraged some people from pursuing their claims. His allegations have not been independently established.
He questioned the ECI’s decision to restore the earlier Form 6 for non-SIR periods, arguing that the change raised questions about the legal basis of the forms previously being used.
The ECI has also announced a review of the ECINET system by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, along with an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT.
Ferreira alleged that technical issues had affected the implementation of orders relating to electoral roll inclusion and argued that such orders should be executed rather than requiring voters to submit fresh applications.
He also questioned the ECI’s decision to introduce advance circulation of agendas and minutes for Full Commission meetings.
Ferreira has called for accountability within the Election Commission and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while alleging that the Commission failed to address concerns raised during the SIR process.
