Karnataka parties cry foul over SIR notice timing for voter travel
Karnataka's major parties argue SIR notices give too little time to arrange travel for voters living outside the state, unlike West Bengal's practice.
Political parties in Karnataka — the Congress, the BJP, and the Janata Dal (Secular) — have raised objections to the timing of notices issued under the State Information Regulator (SIR), saying the short interval between the issue of a notice and the date of hearing leaves them with little room to prepare.
The parties argue that the gap is insufficient for them to identify voters who are eligible but currently living outside the state, inform them about the proceedings, or make travel arrangements for those who need to be present. This comes in the backdrop of instances where West Bengal politicians reportedly paid for flight tickets for their voters to ensure their participation in similar hearings.
The complaint highlights a broader concern among Karnataka's political class that procedural timelines are not accommodating the practical difficulties faced by voters who are not resident in the state. The parties have not specified the exact nature of the SIR notices or the hearings involved, but they contend that the current system places an undue burden on them and on the voters themselves.
While the SIR process is meant to ensure transparency and accountability, the parties' grievance points to a potential mismatch between regulatory deadlines and the logistical realities of voter mobilisation. The matter is likely to be taken up in the coming days as the parties seek more time or a revised schedule to comply with the notices.