EC clarifies notice to former navy chief Prakash, cites multiple BLO visits

The Election Commission of India (ECI) clarified the notice issued to former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Goa, saying his enumeration form lacked mandatory details from the previous SIR.

The SIR, which began in December 2025 and will continue until February 2026, aims to update electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections. Dr Medora Ermomilla D’Costa , Electoral Registration Officer, said the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of Part No. 43, Cortalim Assembly Constituency , collected Prakash’s form, which did not include key details such as his EPIC number, part number, and serial number from the previous roll.

Without these details, the system classified the form as “unmapped,” triggering a hearing notice. Voting rights are not suspended, and the notice allows electors to provide missing information and confirm eligibility. Several other residents with incomplete forms have also received similar notices.

Admiral Prakash publicly responded, noting that he and his wife had filled the SIR forms as required but questioned the design of the forms and the need for the hearing notice. He highlighted that the BLO had visited their home three times and could have collected the missing details during those visits. He also expressed that the requirement to appear at two locations about 18 km apart was inconvenient for him and his wife, but he emphasized that they will comply with the ECI notices . He stressed that his comments were not for special treatment but to urge improvements in the SIR process.

Prakash said the omission of certain details in the form was unintentional, likely an oversight, and the ECI reiterated that the notice is procedural, not punitive , forming part of standard verification under SIR.