Hyderabad, August 13: Telangana will seek legal opinion on the Election Commission’s decision rejecting the new Family Register Certificate for SIR verification.
Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the State respects the ECI’s constitutional authority.
However, he said the ECI’s comparison of the FRC with a ration card needs legal examination.
The government will explore lawful options to protect genuine voters, especially poor and vulnerable sections.
FRC Decision Under Legal Review
The ECI issued its clarification on August 11 following queries from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer.
It said the FRC introduced under G.O. Ms. No. 172 was based on Food Security Card data.
Therefore, the ECI said it could only be treated as equivalent to a ration card.
Shabbir Ali questioned whether government verified information should lose evidentiary value because it came from the ration card database.
He said ration cards are issued through government procedures and verification. However, he clarified that they should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship.
The government will examine whether additional verification or certification can address the ECI’s concerns.
Shabbir Ali said the earlier Family Member Certificate issued under a 2013 Revenue Department memo remains acceptable.
According to the ECI, that certificate involved document checks and local enquiry.
He said the government would seek expert legal advice on the distinction between the two certificates.
The advisor said no genuine voter should face exclusion because of poverty, age, relocation or missing old records.
He also recalled proposing a Permanent Residence Certificate system to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Shabbir Ali said the government would seek a legally sustainable solution while protecting the integrity of electoral rolls.
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