EC won’t accept Family Register Certificate for SIR, Telangana says will move court

The Telangana Government has decided to seek legal advice on the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision not to accept the newly introduced Family Register Certificate (FRC) as a designated document for verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While the ECI maintains that the FRC, based on information retrieved from the Food Security Card database, is equivalent to a ration card, the Telangana Government asserts that this decision raises a legal issue that needs careful examination.

The government emphasizes that genuine voters, especially from poor and vulnerable sections, should not face unnecessary hardship during the SIR. The FRC, introduced on July 25, 2026, is seen as a government-verified record, similar to a ration card, which the government relies on to provide foodgrains under statutory food-security programs.

The distinction lies in the fact that while the earlier Family Member Certificate, verified through cross-checking and local enquiries, remains acceptable, the new FRC, drawn from the Food Security Card database, does not. The government aims to find a legally sustainable solution that makes the verification process easier for genuine citizens, particularly the poor, while maintaining the integrity of the electoral rolls. The Telangana Government will move to court if the ECI does not reconsider its stand.