CEO gives interim tally, sets timelines for final publication
GANGTOK: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Sikkim has completed 1,15,748 hearings, Chief Electoral Officer Raj Kumar Yadav said on Friday, reporting that 12,929 electors were found ineligible for inclusion in the final voters' list.
Of the hearings carried out so far, 55,669 electors were declared eligible and 17,177 cases remain under document verification, the CEO said while sharing the latest status of the revision exercise. The SIR process covered approximately 4.72 lakh electors, during which Enumeration Forms were distributed and collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) through a door-to-door drive.
Notices, uncollected forms and follow-up applications
Mr Yadav said 1,20,424 notices had been delivered so far, with remaining notices in the process of being served. He added that 37,724 Enumeration Forms remained uncollected after the initial distribution.
Following the discovery of uncollected forms, the CEO's office received 1,460 Form 6 claims from individuals seeking enrolment. These applications are being examined against the prescribed documents and eligibility criteria before a decision is taken, he said.
Timelines and remaining procedural steps
According to the schedule announced by the CEO, hearings under the SIR were to be completed by August 16–17. After completion of hearings, the administration will undertake re-hearings where necessary, scrutiny of Form 6 applications, processing of Form 7 (for deletion) and disposal of pending appeals. These subsequent steps are to continue until September 2, when preparation for the final publication of the electoral roll will begin.
At the district level, 57 first appeals were received under the revision process, of which 55 remain pending, the CEO reported. Concerned Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) have been advised to expedite processing of pending cases in constituencies with unfinished work.
Constituency-level completion
Four Assembly constituencies have completed all hearings under the SIR exercise:
- Temi–Namphing
- Upper Tadong
- Gangtok
- Kabi Lungchok
The CEO urged electors and other stakeholders with grievances concerning the electoral roll to use the prescribed appeal mechanism within the stipulated timelines.
Transparency measures and record-keeping
To ensure transparency and support record-keeping, the hearings under the SIR process are being documented through video recording and photography, Mr Yadav said. He also reminded citizens that appeals and claims must follow the statutory formats and be filed within the time limits specified under the Representation of the People Act and rules framed by the Election Commission.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Electors covered under SIR | 4.72 lakh |
| Hearings completed | 1,15,748 |
| Declared eligible | 55,669 |
| Found ineligible | 12,929 |
| Under verification | 17,177 |
| Notices delivered | 1,20,424 |
| Uncollected Enumeration Forms | 37,724 |
| Form 6 claims received | 1,460 |
| First appeals received (pending) | 57 (55) |
What electors should do
- Check whether a notice has been issued in your name and attend the scheduled hearing or request a re-hearing if eligible.
- If you did not receive an Enumeration Form but believe you are eligible, file Form 6 with the supporting documents promptly.
- Use the prescribed appeal mechanism for disputes and submit appeals within the stipulated timelines to avoid being left out of the final roll.
The SIR exercise is a statutory mechanism to ensure accuracy of the electoral roll ahead of elections. The CEO's update provides an interim snapshot; the final position will be known after completion of re-hearings, scrutiny and disposal of appeals as per the announced schedule.
