EC denies report Bharat Ratna scientist CNR Rao got SIR notice over name spelling

Media reports said Bharat Ratna scientist CNR Rao was issued an SIR notice over a spelling mismatch and called for a hearing. The Election Commission later clarified that no notice had been issued to Rao, saying enumeration forms were delivered to him and his family at their residence.

In Short

• Professor CNR Rao called for hearing over name mismatch in Karnataka electoral rolls
• Discrepancy due to extra 'f' in 'Prof' recorded as 'Proff CNR Rao'
• Only the elector named in the notice is allowed at hearing

Professor CNR Rao, one of the country’s most celebrated scientists, was reportedly asked to appear for a hearing to establish his identity after his name was flagged for a spelling mismatch during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.

The report of the renowned scientist receiving an SIR notice over the alleged spelling mismatch gained traction, following which the Election Commission issued a clarification. District Election Officer (DEO) and Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said no such notice had been issued to Bharat Ratna Prof CN Rao in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency of Bengaluru Urban district.

"It has come to the notice of the authorities that certain media reports stated that a notice was issued to Bharat Ratna Prof CN Rao. In this regard, as part of the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, Enumeration Forms were respectfully delivered in person to Prof CN Rao and his family members at their residence by the State SVEEP Nodal Officer, along with the Commissioner of the Bengaluru West City Corporation. The required information was also duly filled in, the DEO stated.

Born in Bengaluru, the 92-year-old scientist has made significant contributions to the city’s scientific landscape. He is a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, and the third scientist to receive the award.

Media reports earlier said that the notice issued to Prof Rao cited “self-name mismatch” as the reason. While older electoral rolls list his name as Prof CNR Rao, the current rolls reportedly contain an additional “f” in “Prof”, recording his name as “Proff CNR Rao.”

“Self-name mismatch” refers to a discrepancy that arises when an elector listed in the 2002 electoral roll uses their own details from that roll while filling out the SIR enumeration form, but those details do not match the current electoral roll.

Only the person against whom a notice has been issued is permitted to appear for the hearing. The earlier reports had therefore stated that Prof Rao had been called for a hearing scheduled in Malleshwaram, near the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

However, the EC, dismissing the reports, further went on to state: "The Hon’ble Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N. Rao was enrolled as a voter in Part No. 129, Serial No. 431 of the 76-Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency in the electoral roll of 2002. At that time, his name was recorded as ‘Rama’. At present, he is registered as a voter in Part No. 59, Serial No. 187 of the 157-Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency, under the name ‘Prof. C. N. Rao M’. Accordingly, his name has also been included in the draft electoral roll."

Known for his work in solid-state and structural chemistry, Prof Rao is regarded as one of the most decorated scientists in his field, having received almost every major award possible, except the Nobel Prize.

Prof Rao has also played an important role in shaping India’s science policies. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and later headed the Scientific Advisory Councils to four Prime Ministers — Rajiv Gandhi, HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral and Manmohan Singh.

He has made significant contributions to science globally and to Bengaluru in particular. He headed the prestigious IISc and founded the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Jakkur, where he served as its founding president.

Among his several honours are the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri and Karnataka Ratna, along with numerous other awards.

- Ends