Notices to 44% electors in Badarpur: BLOs conduct SIR hearings at polling stations, homes

Booth Level Officer Sumit Bhati, a Hindi teacher assigned to 1,000 voters in Badarpur’s Panchsheel Public School, is overseeing Special Intensive Revision hearings to confirm the eligibility of electors whose records could not be linked to the 2002 roll. The effort is part of a broader SIR exercise intended to clean up Delhi’s electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.

By 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Bhati had already completed 36 hearings, and officials report that approximately 87,000 electors – 44 % of Badarpur’s electorate – have been served notices. Of the 1,000 voters under Bhati’s charge, 701 appear on the draft roll, while around 240 are slated to receive notices due to discrepancies such as misspelled names. The Badarpur Assembly constituency originally had 344,000 electors; after the draft roll was published on August 31, 198,000 names remained, and 146,000 were marked “uncollectible” and removed.

The high volume of notices reflects challenges in matching current voter data with the 2002 roll, prompting many residents to visit local election offices or meet BLOs at polling stations to submit supporting documents. Voters like 57‑year‑old Bachan Singh and 23‑year‑old housewife Anita expressed frustration over repeated requests for paperwork, highlighting concerns that the verification process may inconvenience large segments of the electorate. Final approval of submitted documents rests with the Electoral Registration Officer, who can decide the hearing venue based on logistical considerations.