Telangana mulls Karnataka-style permanent residence certificate system

The Telangana government is considering the introduction of a Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) system on the lines of Karnataka and may constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to study its feasibility, State government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said on Monday.

Mr. Shabbir Ali said he had submitted a representation to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy seeking a standardised government document that would enable long-term residents to establish their permanent residence, particularly in the context of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

According to him, the Chief Minister discussed the proposal with senior officials and is considering the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the Karnataka PRC framework and assess the possibility of adopting a similar mechanism in Telangana.

Mr. Shabbir Ali noted that the Election Commission’s indicative list of documents that may be considered during voter verification includes a PRC issued by a competent State authority. A PRC issued by the Telangana government after due verification could therefore serve as supporting evidence when electors are required to establish their eligibility, he said.

He said the proposed certificate would be particularly beneficial for individuals who were not of voting age in 2002, women whose names and addresses changed after marriage, families that have relocated across constituencies or districts, and residents whose names are difficult to trace in older records due to spelling or transliteration discrepancies.