📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Iris Tong
Politics
Congress orders Goa CEO to delete SIR electoral roll within 10 days, warns of court case
✍️ The Goan
🗓 23 Oct 2026, 05:32 AM
👁 19
The Goa unit of the Indian National Congress has given the state's Chief Electoral Officer a ten‑day deadline to remove the Special Incremental Roll (SIR) and has signalled legal action if the demand is not met.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) issued a formal notice to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Goa, demanding the immediate deletion of the Special Incremental Roll (SIR) from the state's electoral database. The notice sets a strict ten‑day window for compliance and warns that failure to act will compel the party to approach the courts.
The SIR, introduced in recent years to accommodate certain categories of voters, has been a point of contention for the opposition, which alleges that its inclusion may distort the electoral roll ahead of upcoming elections. The GPCC has not disclosed the exact legal basis for its demand but indicated that it will file a petition if the roll remains untouched.
The CEO has not yet responded publicly to the Congress's ultimatum. Election officials typically cite procedural safeguards and the need for thorough verification before making any alterations to the roll. The matter is expected to attract further scrutiny as the state prepares for the next assembly elections.
Political analysts note that the standoff underscores the growing friction between the ruling party in Goa and the opposition, with electoral roll integrity becoming a flashpoint. Any court intervention could set a precedent for how similar roll‑related disputes are handled in other states.
The SIR, introduced in recent years to accommodate certain categories of voters, has been a point of contention for the opposition, which alleges that its inclusion may distort the electoral roll ahead of upcoming elections. The GPCC has not disclosed the exact legal basis for its demand but indicated that it will file a petition if the roll remains untouched.
The CEO has not yet responded publicly to the Congress's ultimatum. Election officials typically cite procedural safeguards and the need for thorough verification before making any alterations to the roll. The matter is expected to attract further scrutiny as the state prepares for the next assembly elections.
Political analysts note that the standoff underscores the growing friction between the ruling party in Goa and the opposition, with electoral roll integrity becoming a flashpoint. Any court intervention could set a precedent for how similar roll‑related disputes are handled in other states.