Hyderabad: Residents face delays in caste, income and residential certificates amid SIR drive

Residents in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts are experiencing delays in obtaining caste, income and residential certificates after revenue staff were deployed for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Students and applicants have urged the government to ensure uninterrupted public services.

Hyderabad: Citizens in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts are facing delays in obtaining caste, income and residential certificates with the staff in Tahsildar offices deployed for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Applicants said certificates that were earlier issued within a week are now taking more than two weeks, causing difficulties for students seeking admission to colleges and those requiring documents for scholarships and other official purposes.

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Afiya Fatima, a resident of Fateh Darwaza, said she had to make several visits to the Bahadurpura Tahsildar office before receiving her income certificate. “I received the certificate only after 18 days and was told around 2,000 income certificate applications are pending,” she said.

Residents said similar delays were being experienced at Tahsildar offices at Bandlaguda, Charminar and other parts of Hyderabad, as well as in neighbouring districts.

Mohd Ishtiaq, a resident of Falaknuma, alleged that middlemen were exploiting the situation. “At Bandlaguda Tahsildar office, a broker approached me and offered to get the certificate issued quickly if I paid money. Those who go through brokers receive the certificates much faster, while others have to wait for weeks,” he alleged.

S Kavya, a student from Chandrayangutta, said the delay had affected her admission process. “My college has asked me to submit my income and residential certificates before the admission deadline. Every time I visit the office, I am asked to come back later as the staff is busy with SIR,” she said.

Applicants urged the government to make alternative arrangements to ensure that essential public services are not disrupted while electoral roll-related work is carried out.

Revenue officials said the SIR was a priority exercise and that efforts were being made to clear the backlog of pending applications at the earliest.