Election and Revenue officials verify Harekala Hajabba’s documents and assure him that the voter list name discrepancy will be corrected
Officials visited Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba’s residence in Mangaluru after a voter list discrepancy emerged during the SIR process. After verifying his documents, authorities withdrew the notice and assured him that the records would be corrected.
Mangaluru: Soon after a notice was issued to Padma Shri awardee and Akshara Sant Harekala Hajabba over discrepancies in the voters’ list, officials from the Election and Revenue Department visited his residence and verified his documents. The officials assured Hajabba that the errors in the voter records would be rectified.
The officials examined various documents at Hajabba’s residence, including his Padma Shri award certificate, Karnataka Rajyotsava award card and electoral identity card, among others.
The officials who checked the information in the documents on the spot did not take any original documents with them.
The development came amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral roll. Election officials had initially issued Hajabba a notice after finding a discrepancy between the name appearing in the current voter list and the name recorded during the previous SIR.
Harekala Hajabba Received Notice Over Name Difference
Election officials had visited Harekala Hajabba’s residence and served him a notice. The notice stated that there was a discrepancy between the name mentioned in the current voter list and the name appearing in the voter list prepared during the previous SIR.
Hajabba was asked to appear before the election officer with the necessary documents to retain his name in the final voter list. The notice instructed him to produce original documents in accordance with the instructions of the Election Commission of India.
He was asked to appear before the Harekala Gram Panchayat on September 11.
Election Officials Withdraw Notice Within Four Hours
The development took an unexpected turn after the notice was withdrawn within a few hours of being served.
According to the information available, the village accountant returned to Hajabba’s residence and took back the notice. The election officials reportedly informed him that the discrepancy in his name would be corrected.
The officials subsequently visited Hajabba’s house to verify the details contained in his documents. They examined the documents on the spot and did not take away any original documents.
How The Name Changed From Hajabba To Harekala Hajabba
Harekala Hajabba, who used to sell oranges in Mangaluru, saved the money he earned from selling oranges and used it to build a school in Harekala. His efforts subsequently attracted attention across the country.
According to Hajabba, until the year 2000, only the name “Hajabba” appeared in his records. Later, after his story of selling oranges and building a school gained wider recognition, the name “Harekala Hajabba” came into widespread use.
Hajabba also began using the name “Harekala Hajabba” in various places. Subsequently, the name appeared in several documents, including his Aadhaar card, passport and ration card.
His name is also mentioned as “Harekala Hajabba” on several awards and certificates, including the Padma Shri award, Karnataka Rajyotsava award and doctoral certificate.
Officials Assure Hajabba Of Voter Record Correction
The SIR notice issued because of the name discrepancy has now been withdrawn. Election officials have assured Hajabba that the discrepancy in the records will be corrected.
Following the verification, Hajabba will no longer need to appear personally at the Harekala Gram Panchayat office on September 11 with the documents mentioned in the withdrawn notice.
Harekala Hajabba Calls It A Minor Mistake
Responding to the development, Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba said he received the notice around 12 noon and was asked to appear at the Harekala Gram Panchayat on September 11 with documents.
“Two Anganwadi teachers came to my house and gave me a notice and asked me to bring the documents. Then they told me to take a photo of the notice,” Hajabba said.
He said he subsequently stood in front of the Padma Shri award given by the President and took a photograph.
“All my documents, including my Aadhaar card, ration card, and passport, say ‘Harekala Hajabba’. The same name is also on the Padma Shri award, Rajyotsava award, and doctoral certificate,” Hajabba said.
According to Hajabba, the village accountant called him at around 5 pm and asked him to return the notice, saying there was a small mistake.
“The village accountant called at around 5 pm and asked, ‘There is a small mistake, please return your notice.’ Then he immediately came home and took the notice back. After promising that we would correct the documents ourselves, I returned the notice,” he said.
Hajabba Explains Name Change Before 2000
Clarifying the discrepancy, Hajabba said his name was simply “Hajabba” before 2000 and that the name “Harekala Hajabba” came into use later after society recognised his work.
“Before the year 2000, my name was simply ‘Hajabba’. Later, after the society recognized me, the name ‘Harekala Hajabba’ came into use. After that, many awards, honors and documents have mentioned ‘Harekala Hajabba’,” he said.
Hajabba said authorities had now assured him that the records would be corrected and described the issue as a minor mistake.
“Now the authorities have promised to correct everything. They have said that it was a minor mistake. I am confident that the name will be corrected,” he said.
Hajabba has been informed that officials will undertake the process of correcting discrepancies in names and documents in the voters’ list. In view of this, his requirement to appear personally at the Gram Panchayat office with documents on September 11 has also been eliminated.
