'Represented India In 3 Nations': Ex-Envoy After Details Don't Match In SIR

A former envoy of India to several nations including the UAE and Egypt has asked a question to the Election Commission of India, seeking clarity on the voter roll clean-up exercise special intensive revision (SIR). He also raised a point about "unspecified documents" for proving citizenship despite having represented India in three nations.

Former ambassador Navdeep Suri, who had also served as India's high commissioner to Australia, in several posts on X detailed his frustrating experience of dealing with the SIR process.

"Sharing my experience with SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO, submitted voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured that everything is in order. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don't match with SIR in 2003!" he said in one of the posts.

"Spoke with BLO, was told that I should come and collect the notice. And then come again with unspecified documents that show I am an Indian citizen. Replied that I was not in India in 2003, so they've asked for passport as proof," he added.

"I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can't help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!" the former diplomat said.

.@ECISVEEP
I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can't help asking:
If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen?
Ease of Living, I presume!

— Navdeep Suri (@navdeepsuri) August 23, 2026

BLO is short for booth level officer, who serves as a key point of public interface for the SIR process.

This is not the first instance when a person who has been in public life found their name missing or with some error in respect to the SIR list. Such matters were eventually clarified and closed after a proper look.

The SIR was first introduced in Bihar in June 2025. After the exercise, over 60 lakh voters, including those who have died, were removed from the voter list. In West Bengal, 90 lakh voters were deleted from the list before the assembly election.

The SIR needs voters who were not part of the 2002 or 2003 electoral rolls to give documentary proof linking them to people present in those legacy rolls. Initially, the ECI prescribed 11 acceptable documents, excluding the Aadhaar.

After the matter reached the Supreme Court, the poll body expanded the list to include Aadhaar. The court had also made important observations underscoring the broader constitutional stakes.

The ECI may have powers to conduct electoral roll revisions, but those powers could not be "untrammelled" and must conform to principles of transparency and natural justice.