SIR hearings in Jharkhand postponed after minister Sudivya Kumar's death

Ranchi, Sep 6 (PTI) SIR hearings, scheduled for Monday, were postponed in Jharkhand, following the death of state cabinet minister Sudivya Kumar, a senior official said.

The decision was taken after the JMM-led government decided to observe two days of state mourning on September 6 and 7, and cancelled all its scheduled programmes during this period.

All Jharkhand government offices will remain closed on Monday.

“In view of the state mourning and government holiday, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings scheduled for Monday have been postponed across the state,” Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar told PTI.

The Election Commission has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections under the SIR exercise in the state to September 15, while the publication of the revised voter list has been deferred to October 19.

When asked whether the deadline would be extended, the CEO said a decision would be taken later.

“In view of the state mourning, all voters concerned are informed that notice for the next date for the hearing will be provided to them separately through booth-level officers (BLOs). All voters concerned are requested to wait for the next notice to be issued by BLOs and to follow the prescribed procedure,” Ranchi district administration said in a statement.

Kumar, 56, was admitted to a private hospital in his hometown Giridih around 2.30 am, and doctors declared him dead around 4 am.

The JMM legislator held portfolios of higher and technical education, urban development, tourism, arts and culture, and sports and youth affairs.

All government schools in the state will remain closed on Monday, according to a Jharkhand Education Project Council official.

Several private schools have also declared September 7 a holiday in honour of the deceased minister.