BJP Urges EC to Reject Telangana Family Register Certificates in SIR

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) not to recognise the newly introduced Telangana Family Register Certificates as valid documents during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that accepting a new form of proof midway through the exercise could compromise the integrity, transparency and uniformity of the voter verification process.

A delegation led by Marri Shashidhar Reddy, Chairman of the BJP's Election Commission Affairs Committee in Telangana, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner, requesting explicit directions that the certificates should not be accepted for voter registration or verification under the ongoing SIR.

In its representation, the BJP argued that the Telangana Family Register, developed using data linked to Food Security Cards, was introduced after the Election Commission had already notified the guidelines and list of documents to be used during the voter roll revision. According to the party, bringing in a new document after the process has commenced raises constitutional and administrative concerns and goes against established legal principles governing electoral exercises.

The party alleged that the move gained significance after some political leaders reportedly suggested that the Family Register Certificates could be accepted as supporting documents for voters responding to verification notices issued during the SIR. It maintained that introducing additional documentation after the rules have been laid down amounts to changing the framework of an ongoing process, which could affect the sanctity, consistency and credibility of the electoral roll revision.

The BJP also expressed concern that recognising the certificates could enable ineligible individuals to remain on the electoral rolls. It further alleged that illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals, might misuse the certificates to claim voter eligibility if they are accepted during the verification process. The party urged the Election Commission to issue a clear directive prohibiting the use of the certificates in the ongoing SIR exercise.

The controversy comes in the wake of the Telangana Government's GO No. 172, which provides for the creation of a statewide electronic Telangana Family Register and enables citizens to obtain Family Register Certificates through the MeeSeva platform. According to the government, the initiative is intended to create a verified and standardised record of family details, improve access to government services, and ensure uniformity in family-related verification across departments.

While the state government has described the Family Register as an administrative reform aimed at streamlining citizen services, the BJP has maintained that the certificates should remain outside the scope of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision and has sought the Election Commission's intervention to safeguard the credibility of the electoral roll revision process.