'What About Minority?': Telangana High Court Seeks ECI Stand On Telugu-Only Enumeration Forms For SIR

The Telangana High Court on Thursday (June 25) sought the Election Commission of India's stand on a petition challenging a decision to print and distribute enumeration forms for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision in the State exclusively in Telugu language. House-to-house enumeration exercise by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Telangana is scheduled from June 25 (today) to July 24, 2026.The plea seeks a declaration that printing and distributing the Enumeration Forms exclusively in Telugu language is as violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India and contrary to Rule 4 of the Registration of Electors Rules 1960. In the interim the plea seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana to print and distribute the Enumeration Forms in a bilingual format i.e., in Telugu and English languages and to make the same available throughout the State during the forthcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026. Justice Pulla Karthik after hearing the matter for some time asked the counsel appearing for ECI to get instructions in the matter and listed it on June 29. During the hearing the petitioner's counsel argued that there is a diversity of minority communities and language in the State. The counsel thus said that the decision to print and distribute the Enumeration Forms exclusively in Telugu language in all districts of the State, without consulting local political parties, social organisations and other stakeholders, is arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory.Meanwhile the counsel appearing for the ECI submitted that in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits enumeration form is being printed in English after consultation with political parties but in the remaining districts in the State it is being distributed in Telugu which is the local language. "However in practicality...the Booth Level Officer (BLO), who visits each house will be carrying along with him one English printed enumeration form as well. Even if door is locked BLO has to visit the same place 2-3 times. The distribution process starts today. In those times he will be carrying the english form; if the voter is present in the house and asks for english form he will give it. Concern here is that there are about 3.5 crore voters and the concerned forms have already been printed to address practical difficulties...within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits it has been decided that the forms will be in English. For remaining districts the forms will also be carried in English and Urdu..." the counsel said. The court at this stage orally asked, "What is the difficulty in following the same in the city?"Petitioner's counsel however argued, "Suppose I hail from Karim Nagar and I'm minority and I'm not acquainted with Telugu then things will go out...Now they are printing it only in Telugu. There is a serious protest. Inspite of that they are printing only in Telugu". At this stage the court asked ECI if the petitioner's representation had been considered. To which the counsel said, "Yes we will consider the representation...There was a meeting held with all the political rules as per the rules. There was a specific consultation about which language the enumeration form should be printed in for convenience of the voters. Within GHMC limits it was decided that printing of form in English will be more convenient"The petitioner's counsel however objected and said that this was "absolutely irrational". "How can they confine it to only GHMC? You cannot neglect rural Telangana...We cant be disbanded with our right," he added. At this stage, the court orally asked ECI's counsel, "How do you justify your actions?" . The counsel said that the exercise requires that enumeration form is always printed in local language. To this the court asked, "What is the local language in Hyderabad?" The counsel said that in Hyderabad the form is being printed in English. The court then orally asked, "What about minority?". Meanwhile the petitioner's counsel said that this was a "conspiracy to see that minority is deleted from the list of voters" adding that the petitioner had made representations. The ECI's counsel meanwhile said that whoever asks for the form in English it will be given. The court however orally asked if the voter asks for the form in Urdu then. To this the counsel said, "It is online. They can print and give it. English, Urdu, Telugu are all online. Physical printing because of costs, is in language of the State. If anybody asks please give me in English or Urdu we will give it. It is there online". Asking the ECI to consider the petitioner's representation the court thereafter orally said to ECI's counsel, "Consider this representation...he is only requesting to provide form in three languages...If you want to get instructions regarding this, I'll post on Monday. Otherwise I'll dispose of with direction to consider this represenation".The ECI's counsel said that he...

'What About Minority?': Telangana High Court Seeks ECI Stand On Telugu-Only Enumeration Forms For SIR

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'What About Minority?': Telangana High Court Seeks ECI Stand On Telugu-Only Enumeration Forms For SIR

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