SIR may be postponed in Kerala; Chief Electoral Officer sends request to Central Election Commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Kerala may be postponed as the local body elections will be held before December. Chief Electoral Officer Dr Ratan Kelkar said that a letter has been sent to the Central Election Commission requesting this. It is expected that a positive decision will be taken.

The letter to the Central Election Commission stating that it would be appropriate to postpone the SIR in Kerala until the local body elections are over was sent after consultations with the State Election Commission and the District Collectors. It was felt that it would be impractical to carry out a very complex and radical voter list revision during the local body elections.

There is a concern that there will be confusion in the procedures since the Collectors and Deputy Collectors in charge of the SIR are the returning officers in the local body elections as well. The SIR has been requested to be extended, keeping this in mind. The local body elections in Kerala are likely to be held in November or December. SIR will be implemented in Kerala after December if the Central Election Commission accepts the demand.