Over 10,000 prisoners in Kerala jails out of SIR

MORE than 10,000 prisoners lodged in jails across the state will not be part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the office of the Chief Election Officer has said.

- ASWIN ASOK KUMAR @ T'Puram

The reason: SIR guidelines do not mention how to execute the process in the case of prisoners. Senior officials with the office of the CEO-Kerala said prisoners will not be considered for SIR as they are not 'ordinarily residents' of their address since they are in jail.

They will have to apply again for inclusion in electoral roll upon their release, the officials said, adding that the eligibility will be decided by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

As of October 20, there were more than 10,053 prisoners — 9,802 men and 251 women housed in around 57 jail institutions in the state.