SIR: Residence certificate endorsed by Karnataka is not valid as per Election Commission guidelines

With door-to-door visits scheduled to begin in Karnataka from June 30 as part of the Special Intensive Review (SIR), the state government has directed panchayat development officers (PDOs) to issue residency certificates to those who require them as supporting documents for the exercise.

However, the Electoral Commission guidelines do not accept proof of residency. The list of 11 approved documents specifically requires a Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) issued by a “competent” government authority.

Moreover, while the government has directed the CHOP to issue residence certificates as they are the authorities that usually issue such certificates, only the tahsildar, the competent authority for the same, can issue a permanent residence certificate.

Logic questioned

In this context, civil society groups such as “My Voice, My Right” question the logic of the government’s direction.

If residence certificates issued by CHOPs are to be accepted during the SIR process, the government must clearly state this and ensure that they are not rejected during the enumeration or subsequent inspection. If not, they said, the government should stop directing people to a document that does not meet the prescribed criteria and instead help genuine voters get documents that are actually valid as per the guidelines. “Trying to help people is appreciated, but the help should be for something,” they said.

The housing certificate does not meet the requirements of the PRC. For many eligible voters from marginalized communities, just obtaining proof of permanent residence or permanent residence is a difficult and time-consuming process. If the certificate is issued by an authority that is not recognized as per the prescribed procedure, there is also uncertainty whether the Election Commission will accept it, the groups said.

RC and PRC

In particular, proof of residency can be obtained through documents such as Aadhaar, ration card, electricity or water bills, or a tenancy agreement that establishes a person’s current address. However, a certificate of permanent residence requires proof of a longer connection with the state. This may include proof of residence in Karnataka for several years, studying in the state for more than six years, parents living in Karnataka, property ownership or other records explaining long-term residence.

All 11 documents listed by the EC for SIR go beyond routine voter verification and instead question a person’s link to citizenship. Documents such as proof of residence can also be obtained based on a rented house, while the SIR framework requires proof of citizenship, mostly based on pre-2002 residence.

Citing an example from West Bengal, activist and columnist Shivasundar said that when the SIR was being conducted there, many residents had produced permanent residence certificates issued by the state government to prove their eligibility. These were not ordinary residence certificates, but permanent residence or residence certificates.

According to him, however, the Electoral Commission initially refused to accept them on the grounds that they did not meet its prescribed requirements for confirmation of permanent residence. The commission also claimed that fresh notices can be served even to people who have already submitted such certificates.

“The example of West Bengal explains the Election Commission’s strict approach to residence proofs,” said Mr. Shivasundar.

He pointed out that the commission insisted not only on the certificate itself, but also on how it was issued. In West Bengal, only certificates issued under the relevant government order, by specifically designated authorities and in strict accordance with the prescribed procedure, were considered valid. Even the Supreme Court, he added, has upheld the Election Commission’s authority in such matters.

“This shows that it’s not just about whether a person has a certificate, but whether the document meets all the requirements set by the Election Commission,” he said, adding that the bigger question is whether such hastily issued documents, as they are now directed by the government, will serve any purpose.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 19:59 IST