SIR: Karnataka introduces door-to-door delivery of caste certificate, PRCs

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara during the launch of a special campaign by the Finance Ministry to visit every household in the state and distribute free caste certificates along with the Permanent Residence Certificate service at the Vidhana Soudha Legislative Assembly Hall in Bengaluru on Monday.

Amid the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday launched a door-to-door initiative to issue Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs), one of the 11 documents accepted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for voter verification in the exercise.

While the Tahsildars are the competent authority for issuing PRCs, the state government has also empowered Deputy Tahsildars to issue certificates to speed up the process.

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The government has also introduced a scheme of free delivery of caste certificates to beneficiaries across the state.

Addressing the media at the Vidhana Soudha after the launch of the initiatives, Mr. Shivakumar said they are aimed at reducing the need for citizens to visit multiple government offices.

Terming the move as a “new concept” by Karnataka, Mr. Shivakumar said no other state government had provided such a service. “Karnataka has always supported people who came to the state to build their lives. Your vote, your right has been the government’s ideology. This initiative is to ensure that eligible voters do not lose their voting rights during SIR,” he said.

About 4.85 lakh digital caste certificates have already been shared with Deputy Commissioners for Printing and Door-to-Door Distribution. A mobile application has been developed which records the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers and confirmation after the certificates are delivered, he added.

“Citizens will also be able to download caste certificates for free through the government portal using their RD certificate number, ration card number or Aadhaar number. The service will also be available at government help centres, including the newly set up hobli level centres,” Mr Shivakumar said, adding that nearly 57 lakh caste certificates have already been linked with mobile numbers, download links and SMS to beneficiaries.

“Crossing the Constitutional Line”

After the initiative was launched, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok accused the Congress government of “crossing a dangerous constitutional line” and argued that the initiative raised “serious constitutional, legal and national security concerns”.

On the legal basis of the exercise, Mr. Ashok asked under which provision of the Constitution the state government was empowered to issue permanent residence certificates.

Demanding that the state government immediately suspend the exercise, he said that if the government did not withdraw the initiative, the BJP would challenge it “politically, legally and constitutionally”.

Published – 20 Jul 2026 20:17 IST