Why are IFS Officers getting SIR notices?

Ramesh Chander, a 75-year-old retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and former ambassador, has been served a notice to furnish documents proving his Indian citizenship by the Jalandhar Special Summary Revision (SIR) authorities in Punjab. Chander represented India across diplomatic missions in Asia, Africa, and Europe—including key postings in Belarus, Japan, Prague, and Edinburgh—and has been a registered voter in Jalandhar for many years. He is the second former diplomat to receive such a notice.

 The issuance of these notices highlights administrative friction during large-scale voter list verification drives, such as SIR and NRC updates. Overseas postings inherent to diplomatic service often result in extended periods away from a home constituency. This absence can create gaps in continuous local residency databases, legacy municipal registries, or electoral rolls.