SIR not new concept, vital for healthy democracy: Goa CM Sawant

PANAJI: (Oct 6) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday dismissed concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that it is not a new concept and is vital for a healthy democracy.

In a post on , Sawant pointed out that door-to-door enumeration has been standard procedure since the 1950s, adding that the main goal remains ensuring every eligible citizen is registered while weeding out voters who have died or relocated.

Sawant’s remarks have come at a time when Opposition parties are protesting alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and reports of differences within the three-member Election Commission. The poll body has rejected suggestions of a split and maintained that decisions relating to SIR were taken unanimously.