Mangaluru: Padma Shri awardee and educationist Harekala Hajabba has received a notice from the Election Commission in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The notice was reportedly issued after a discrepancy was noticed between the name recorded in the 2002 electoral roll and the name appearing in Hajabba’s current official documents.
Name discrepancy leads to notice
According to the 2002 electoral roll, Hajabba’s name was recorded simply as “Hajabba”. However, his name is currently recorded as “Harekala Hajabba” in his official documents, including his ration card, Aadhaar card, passport and voter ID card.
The mismatch came to light during the verification process being carried out as part of the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has been undertaking the revision to verify electoral roll details and ensure that voter records are accurate.
The notice has asked Hajabba to appear before the concerned authorities and produce documents supporting his current name and identity details.
Hajabba to submit documents on September 11
Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Hajabba said an Anganwadi worker delivered the notice to him on Monday morning.
According to him, he has been asked to appear at the gram panchayat office on Friday, September 11, along with all the relevant documents.
“I will go to the gram panchayat on that day and submit the documents as instructed. I am confident that the issue will be resolved after that,” Hajabba said.
He is expected to present his existing official records, including his Aadhaar card, ration card, passport and voter ID, to establish that the name currently used across his documents is Harekala Hajabba.
SIR verification brings electoral records under scrutiny
The incident comes amid the Election Commission’s SIR exercise, under which electoral records are being scrutinised and verified. Differences in names, addresses and other details between older electoral rolls and current documents can require voters to provide supporting records during the verification process.
In Hajabba’s case, the difference appears to concern the inclusion of his full name. While the older electoral roll lists him as “Hajabba”, his present official documents carry the name “Harekala Hajabba”.
Hajabba, who is widely recognised for his efforts to promote education among children from disadvantaged backgrounds, has received national and international recognition for his work. His journey from selling oranges on the streets to establishing educational facilities in his native area has made him a prominent figure associated with grassroots education initiatives.
He was conferred the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his contribution to social work and education.
The notice has therefore drawn attention because of the identity verification process involving a person whose name and work have received considerable recognition.
However, Hajabba has indicated that he does not expect the matter to become a major issue. He plans to comply with the Election Commission’s instructions and submit the required documents at the gram panchayat office on September 11.
The discrepancy between the 2002 electoral record and his current documents will be examined by the authorities, following which the electoral record can be addressed as per the applicable procedure.