Karnataka SIR: Schoolchildren allegedly used in Belagavi enumeration, DC orders probe
Synopsis
Schoolchildren at a government school in Belagavi's Gokak taluk were allegedly roped into Karnataka's electoral roll revision exercise — filling forms and pasting photographs. The Belagavi DC has ordered a probe, but the incident has already ignited a broader BJP offensive against the Congress government's handling of the SIR.
Key Takeaways
Schoolchildren at Government Kannada Higher Primary School , Maradimutt village , Gokak taluk were allegedly used in the SIR enumeration process on 7 July .
Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has issued a notice to the Gokak Tahsildar and ordered a formal probe.
Videos purportedly showing students assisting Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in the exercise have surfaced on social media.
Ravi alleged that BJP voters were denied Enumeration Forms and that the SIR was being conducted in mosques.
BJP MP Govind Karajol made unverified claims linking Congress's opposition to the SIR to concerns over Rahul Gandhi's citizenship status.
The enquiry outcome is expected to determine if Election Commission of India procedures were violated.
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka has drawn fresh controversy after allegations emerged that schoolchildren were deployed in the enumeration process at a government school in Belagavi district. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has ordered a probe into the incident, which reportedly occurred on Tuesday, 7 July.
What Allegedly Happened
The alleged incident took place at the Government Kannada Higher Primary School in Maradimutt village, Gokak taluk, where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are accused of involving schoolchildren while conducting the SIR exercise. According to the allegations, the BLOs summoned villagers to the school premises to distribute and collect Enumeration Forms as part of the electoral roll revision. Preliminary information suggests the children were allegedly used to fill up forms and paste photographs.
Videos purportedly showing schoolchildren assisting in the exercise have surfaced on social media, triggering widespread concern over the alleged involvement of minors in an official election-related activity.
District Administration's Response
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan issued a notice to the Gokak Tahsildar seeking a formal explanation. Roshan also warned that strict action would be initiated if any lapse or violation of official guidelines is established during the enquiry. The district administration is expected to determine whether the children were engaged in the enumeration process and whether any prescribed Election Commission of India procedures were violated. Officials are yet to issue a detailed public statement, and the enquiry is currently underway.
BJP's Political Allegations
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have seized on the controversy to level broader charges against the state government. BJP MLC C.T. Ravi alleged, 'The state government has given oral instructions to government officials and subverting the process of the SIR. The BJP voters are not given Enumeration Forms and retaining of Congress voters is being done. The SIR is conducted en masse in mosques.' Ravi also claimed that birth certificates were being issued to individuals not born in the region, and said the party would detail the alleged illegalities in the SIR process.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MP Govind Karajol, speaking to media in Chitradurga on Tuesday, claimed, 'Due to SIR, the Congress leaders are fearful.' Karajol also alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds dual citizenship and that the party is opposing the SIR to prevent this from becoming public — a claim that has not been independently verified. He further alleged that Congress fears the cancellation of Gandhi's parliamentary membership, and that this is driving the opposition to the exercise.
Broader Context
The Belagavi incident is the latest flashpoint in an already contentious SIR process in Karnataka. Opposition parties have been critical of the exercise's implementation since it commenced, raising concerns about procedural irregularities. This comes amid a charged political environment in the state, with the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) and the BJP trading accusations over the conduct and intent of the electoral roll revision. The Election Commission of India has not yet responded publicly to the specific allegations from Belagavi.
The outcome of the Belagavi enquiry is expected to set a precedent for how procedural violations — if confirmed — are handled across the state during the SIR.
Point of View
Creating conditions where procedural shortcuts — including, allegedly, the use of minors — go unchecked until they surface on social media. The BJP's response, however, has quickly pivoted from a legitimate administrative concern to sweeping political charges, including unverified claims about Rahul Gandhi's citizenship. That conflation risks burying the real accountability question — whether Election Commission guidelines were violated — under partisan noise. The DC's probe is necessary, but it will only matter if it results in disclosed findings and named consequences, not a quiet administrative note filed away.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka SIR controversy in Belagavi?
The controversy involves allegations that Booth Level Officers deployed schoolchildren to assist in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at a government school in Maradimutt village, Gokak taluk, Belagavi district. The children were allegedly used to fill Enumeration Forms and paste photographs — tasks meant to be performed by authorised officials.
What action has the Belagavi administration taken?
Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has issued a notice to the Gokak Tahsildar seeking an explanation and ordered a formal enquiry. He warned that strict action would follow if any violation of official guidelines is confirmed.
What has the BJP alleged about the Karnataka SIR process?
BJP MLC C.T. Ravi alleged that BJP voters were not given Enumeration Forms, that Congress voters were being preferentially retained, and that the SIR was being conducted in mosques. BJP MP Govind Karajol made separate, unverified claims linking Congress's opposition to the SIR to concerns over Rahul Gandhi's citizenship status.
Has the Election Commission of India responded to the Belagavi allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the Election Commission of India has not issued a public response to the specific allegations from Belagavi. The district-level enquiry ordered by the Deputy Commissioner is still underway.
Why is the Karnataka SIR politically contentious?
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has been a flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the BJP in Karnataka, with Opposition parties alleging procedural irregularities in its implementation. The Belagavi schoolchildren incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the exercise.
