Karnataka CEO clarifies SIR notice to Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba; name mismatch resolved
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday clarified that the notice issued to Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was related to a mismatch in his name in the electoral records and said the issue has now been resolved.
In a post on social media platform X, the CEO shared a clarification issued by the District Election Officer (DEO), Mangaluru, regarding the correction of Hajabba’s name.
“With regard to the issue concerning the correction of the name of Padma Shri awardee Shri Harekala Hajabba, it is clarified that a mismatch in the name of the elector was found. In order to correct his name, officials visited and collected the documents from him. The issue has now been resolved,” the DEO said.
The clarification came after election officials served Hajabba a notice asking him to appear with documents following a discrepancy between the name in the current electoral roll and the name recorded during the previous SIR exercise.
The notice, which was issued at his residence, directed Hajabba to appear before the election officer with the required documents to retain his name in the final electoral roll. He was asked to appear at the Harekala Gram Panchayat on September 11.
However, within a few hours of serving the notice, the Village Accountant reportedly returned to Hajabba’s residence and withdrew it. The officials assured him that the discrepancy in his name would be corrected.
The development had caused surprise in Mangaluru as Hajabba is widely known for his social work and for building a school in his native Harekala using the money he earned by selling oranges in Mangaluru. He was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to education.
According to Hajabba, his name was recorded as simply “Hajabba” in documents before 2000. After his efforts to build a school gained widespread recognition, “Harekala Hajabba” became the name by which he was commonly known.
He said his Aadhaar card, ration card, passport and other documents carry the name “Harekala Hajabba”. The same name, he said, is also mentioned in his Padma Shri award, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and doctorate certificate.
Hajabba earlier said that he received the SIR notice around noon and was asked to produce the necessary documents. He said two Anganwadi teachers had delivered the notice and asked him to take a photograph as proof of its service.
Later, around 5 p.m., the Village Accountant contacted him and said that there had been a “minor mistake” and asked him to return the notice. The official subsequently visited his house and took it back, assuring him that the authorities would correct the records.
Hajabba said he was confident that the discrepancy would be resolved and that his name would be corrected in the electoral records.