Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 27: The Election Commission of India has extended the deadline for filing claims, suggestions and objections to the draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Maharashtra by 12 days, from September 30 to October 12.

The deadline for issuing and disposing of notices and claims and objections concerning 1.22 crore electors has also been extended by 12 days, with the new deadline set for November 10. The extension was granted following a request from Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam.

The extension comes as Maharashtra's electoral machinery continues to process a large number of cases flagged during the revision of electoral rolls.

As of September 24, notices had been generated for 1.18 crore of the 1.22 crore electors identified for the notice process, while notices for another 3.91 lakh electors were yet to be generated.

The draft electoral roll in Maharashtra was published on August 31, with the original period for filing claims and objections scheduled to end on September 30.

The Election Commission's revised schedule gives electors additional time to examine their entries in the draft rolls and submit claims or objections where necessary.

The SIR is being conducted by the Election Commission of India, while the Chief Electoral Officer and electoral machinery in Maharashtra are responsible for implementing the revision process in the state.

The extension is part of a broader set of changes announced by the Election Commission on September 26. The poll panel also extended the corresponding deadlines in Delhi, where claims and objections can now be filed until October 30 and their disposal has been extended until November 30.