Former Diplomat Navdeep Suri Challenges Punjab Voter Verification Process

Former Indian diplomat Navdeep Suri criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab after officials asked him to prove his citizenship. Suri, who served as India's High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to the UAE and Egypt, reported that a booth-level officer informed him his details did not match 2003 records because he was serving abroad at the time. Despite submitting his Voter ID and Aadhaar card, he was asked to provide his passport and other unspecified documents to establish his identity.

Suri questioned the burden these requirements place on ordinary people, asking what the fate of the common citizen is if a former envoy faces such hurdles. The SIR exercise is currently in its third phase across 16 states. While the Supreme Court of India upheld the legality of the revision in May, it ruled that the Election Commission of India cannot unilaterally determine a person's citizenship status.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra responded by clarifying that Suri's name was never removed from the electoral roll and remained part of the draft published on August 13. Mitra stated that Suri was served a notice to submit mandatory documents, and following that process, his name was published in the electoral roll for Amritsar. The Draft Electoral Roll 2026 for Punjab's 117 constituencies is open for claims and objections until September 12, with final rolls due October 12.