Several prominent voters in Delhi, including former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Election Commissioner S S Sandhu, have received notices during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The notices were issued after discrepancies were found between details submitted in the latest enumeration forms and earlier electoral records. Officials have clarified that receiving an SIR notice does not automatically mean that a person’s name will be removed from the voter list.
Over 33 lakh voters flagged during Delhi SIR
The notices are part of the verification exercise being conducted after publication of Delhi’s draft electoral rolls.
According to officials, more than 33 lakh voters have been flagged for discrepancies. A major reason behind the notices is that the details of voters could not be matched with records from the previous intensive revision of electoral rolls conducted in 2002.
The process is intended to allow voters to verify their information and provide documents wherever required.
S S Sandhu’s voter record already verified
Election Commissioner S S Sandhu was among those who received a notice after a mismatch was found in his name.
A separate notice was also issued to his son Damanbir Sandhu over a discrepancy concerning his parent’s name.
However, officials have since confirmed that Sandhu’s electoral record has been verified. His name has been kept for inclusion in the final electoral roll after the documents submitted by him were checked. Sandhu and his son are registered voters in the Delhi Cantonment constituency.
LK Advani and family members receive notices
Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and two members of his family have also received notices.
Advani, his daughter Pratibha and daughter-in-law Geetika were reportedly flagged because their names could not be linked with the 2002 electoral roll. His son Jayant, however, cleared the mapping process.
The family members are registered voters in the New Delhi Assembly constituency.
S Jaishankar and wife also on notice list
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his wife Kyoko Jaishankar have also received notices under the category relating to voters whose records could not be mapped to the previous SIR roll.
Their names are associated with the Sunehri Bagh area of the New Delhi Assembly constituency.
Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh have also been issued notices. Their voter records are linked to the address of the Vice-President’s residence.
Manish Sisodia, Rekha Gupta and Arvind Kejriwal also named
The SIR notice list also includes several prominent political figures.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, his wife Seema and their son Meer have received notices. Officials said Seema’s notice concerned a mismatch in her own name, while Meer’s notice referred to a discrepancy involving his parents’ names. The reason for Sisodia’s notice was not specified by officials cited in the reports.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal have also been included among prominent voters who were asked to verify their records.
Gupta’s electoral entry has already been validated following document verification, and her name has been kept for inclusion in the final electoral roll for the Shalimar Bagh constituency.
Senior officials and former military officers also flagged
The list extends beyond political leaders.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, CBI Director Praveen Sood, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, former NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya and former JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar are among other prominent names reported in the notice list.
Reports have also identified former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan and former Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne among prominent voters who received notices.
Why are SIR notices being issued?
The notices are connected to the verification of voter information against previous electoral records.
Where a voter’s current details do not match earlier records, or where the voter cannot be mapped to the previous SIR roll, the case can be flagged for further verification.
Election officials have said the notices are system-generated and are intended to identify discrepancies that need to be checked. The process does not by itself establish that a voter is ineligible.
Delhi CEO clarifies notice does not mean deletion
The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office has specifically clarified that receiving a notice does not automatically result in deletion of a voter’s name.
Officials have said voters must be given an opportunity to respond before any deletion decision is taken. A proper order must also be passed in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
Voters who receive notices can submit their replies and supporting documents to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer or Booth Level Officer.
Late economist Bibek Debroy also appears in records
The name of late economist Bibek Debroy has also appeared in the list because his electoral record was marked as not mapped with the previous SIR.
Debroy, who was a voter in the New Delhi constituency, died in November 2024. Officials have said they are aware of his death and that his name will not be included in the final electoral roll.
What happens next in Delhi SIR?
The claims and objections stage of the Delhi SIR process is scheduled to continue until September 30. Voters who receive notices have to submit their responses and supporting documents within the prescribed period.
According to the reported schedule, verification and disposal of notices is to be completed by October 29, while the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 4.
The Election Commission’s verification exercise is therefore continuing, with officials checking individual voter records before the final electoral roll is published.
