Goa CM Seeks Extension for Appeals on Voter Deletions

The Goa government is set to approach the Election Commission seeking more time for voters to challenge the deletion of their names from electoral rolls, amid growing political controversy over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the Goa Legislative Assembly that his government wants to ensure no genuine voter is unfairly removed and that the appeal window should be extended to address complaints from affected citizens.

Chief Minister Assures Protection of Genuine Voters

Speaking in the House, Pramod Sawant said the government’s intention is clear: every citizen should be registered at only one place, but no original Goan should lose their voting right due to procedural issues. He said he would formally request the Election Commission of India to extend the deadline for filing appeals against voter deletions and notices issued during the SIR exercise.

What Is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

The Special Intensive Revision is a detailed verification drive carried out by election authorities to clean up electoral rolls. In Goa, this process is being conducted after a gap of more than two decades, with the previous SIR held in 2002. The current exercise aims to ensure “one citizen, one vote” by identifying duplicate entries, deceased voters, and those who have permanently shifted.

Large-Scale Deletions Raise Concerns

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, the draft electoral roll has removed 100,042 names, amounting to 8.44% of the electorate. Out of an initial voter base of 11.85 lakh, enumeration forms were collected from around 10.85 lakh voters, achieving over 91% coverage. The draft roll flagged more than 25,000 voters as deceased, over 72,000 as shifted or absent, and nearly 2,000 as enrolled in multiple places.

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Opposition Calls It ‘Mass Exclusion’

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao strongly criticised the process, calling it a mass exclusion exercise. He argued that non-collection of enumeration forms cannot legally justify marking voters as dead, shifted, or ineligible. Alemao pointed out that many students study outside Goa and many Goans work abroad, which should not automatically disqualify them.

Concerns Over Missing Mandatory Notices

Alemao also said that voters discovering their names missing from the draft roll without prior notice undermines trust in the electoral system. According to him, mass deletions based only on form non-collection are procedurally flawed and unfair. He warned that such practices could discourage voter participation and create fear among ordinary citizens.

Specific Booth-Level Examples Highlighted

Congress legislator and advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira shared specific examples from his constituency to highlight alleged errors. He said that in one booth, over 90% of voters were marked as “unmapped,” dead, or absent. In another case, only 65 voters would remain on the roll if deletions were finalised, raising questions about the accuracy of verification.

Prominent Citizens Flagged as ‘Unmapped’

The controversy deepened after reports that well-known individuals were issued notices under the “unmapped” category. These include former Navy captain and Congress MP Viriato Fernandes and former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash. They were asked to appear with documents to establish their citizenship, despite being widely known public figures.

Why ‘Unmapped’ Voters Are Being Questioned

Election officials explained that voters who cannot trace their names or those of close relatives in the 2002 SIR list are categorised as “unmapped.” Such voters are required to submit documents to confirm their citizenship. Critics argue that this criterion is outdated and does not reflect population movement over the last two decades.

Government’s Stand and Next Steps

Chief Minister Sawant reiterated that the aim of the SIR is not exclusion but accuracy. He said extending the appeal deadline would give voters adequate time to respond to notices and correct mistakes. The government, he added, wants a transparent process where every eligible voter gets a fair chance to remain on the rolls.

Conclusion

As Goa awaits the Election Commission’s response on extending the appeal deadline, the SIR exercise remains under intense political and public scrutiny. With opposition parties alleging procedural lapses and the government promising safeguards, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether voter confidence can be restored while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.