Muslim women and other voters had raised concerns; officials maintain that a clear and visible face is the main requirement
NEW DELHI — Confusion among women, particularly from the Muslim community, over the use of hijab or headscarves in photographs submitted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has been addressed by election authorities in Telangana.
The SIR exercise is currently underway in Telangana and is expected to continue until 24 July. As part of the process, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are carrying out door-to-door verification to update voter records. However, several questions have arisen among voters regarding the requirements for submitting photographs during the verification exercise.
One of the main concerns has been whether women can submit photographs while wearing a hijab or covering their heads with a dupatta. The issue has generated discussion in Hyderabad, where many Muslim women have been seeking clarity on the matter.
There has also been uncertainty over whether ears must be visible in the photograph for it to be accepted. Different responses from officials at the local level added to the confusion, leaving many voters unsure about the correct procedure.
Hyderabad District Election Officer R V Karnan has now clarified the position. He said that photographs with or without a hijab will be accepted during the verification process.
“The most important requirement is that the face should be clearly visible in the photograph,” Karnan said while explaining the guidelines.
According to a Siasat.com report, opinions among field-level officials have not been entirely consistent. Some officials have stated that ears should be visible in the photograph, while others said they had not received any specific instructions on the matter.
As a result, many voters remained uncertain about the type of photograph they should submit. While the District Election Officer has emphasised the need for a clear and identifiable face, differing interpretations at the ground level have contributed to public confusion.
An employee associated with the SIR process, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared further details about the procedure. The employee said that there are no specific rules regarding hijab or head coverings within the BLO application used during the verification process.
“There is no separate guideline in the app regarding hijab or covering the head,” the employee said.
The employee explained that the government software used for capturing voter photographs displays a reference sketch while the images are being captured. According to the employee, the sketch includes the ear area, and photographs are generally accepted when they match the required format shown by the software.
“The photograph should be clear and should fit properly within the template provided by the software,” the employee said.
The employee also stated that no specific circular or training instruction has been issued regarding head coverings or hijab. The primary concern, according to the explanation, is that the photograph should be clear and suitable for scanning and verification.
The clarification is expected to provide relief to many women who were uncertain about whether photographs taken while wearing a hijab or headscarf would be accepted. Election officials have indicated that photographs with a hijab or dupatta can be submitted, provided the face is clearly visible and the image meets the technical requirements of the verification system.
The SIR exercise continues across Telangana as authorities work to update voter records and complete the verification process before the announced deadline later this month.
