Bharat Ratna scientist gets SIR notice: 92-year-old Prof C N R Rao summoned over 'self-name mismatch' in electoral rolls

Bharat Ratna scientist gets SIR notice: Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee Prof C N R Rao, 92, has been summoned for a hearing to establish his identity after his name was flagged during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.

Rao has received a notice over a discrepancy in the spelling of his name in the electoral rolls. While the 2002 electoral roll lists his name as “Prof C N R Rao”, the current electoral roll reportedly carries an additional “f” and records it as “Proff C N R Rao”.

Why was C N R Rao summoned for the electoral roll hearing?

The notice issued to Rao cites a “self-name mismatch”. The discrepancy relates to differences between the details provided by an elector in the SIR enumeration form, based on the 2002 electoral roll, and the corresponding details in the current electoral roll.


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In Rao’s case, the difference appears to be limited to the spelling of the title before his name, with “Prof” in the older record and “Proff” in the current electoral roll.

What is a self-name mismatch in SIR?

A self-name mismatch occurs when the details submitted by an elector in the SIR enumeration form do not match the corresponding entry in the current electoral roll.

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Such discrepancies can result in the elector being asked to appear for a hearing to establish or verify their identity as part of the electoral roll revision process.

Where has C N R Rao been asked to appear?

Under the procedure, only the person named in the notice can attend the hearing. Rao has consequently been asked to appear in person at a venue in Malleshwaram, near the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru.

The hearing is part of the process to address the discrepancy identified in his electoral roll records.

C N R Rao Bharat Ratna award and achievements

Prof C N R Rao is one of India's most eminent scientists and has made major contributions to chemistry and materials science.

He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2014. Rao became the third scientist to receive the prestigious award.

Amartya Sen also flagged over electoral roll discrepancy

Economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was also flagged over a similar spelling discrepancy during the electoral roll revision process.

However, the Election Commission of India has said that Sen has been exempted from appearing in person for the hearing.

The cases have drawn attention to how spelling and other discrepancies in electoral records are being addressed during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Karnataka.


Inputs from TOI