BENGALURU: The Karnataka BJP on July 20 attacked the Congress government over its statewide campaign to distribute permanent residence and caste certificates free of cost, alleging that the exercise is a politically motivated attempt to influence the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and create a parallel mechanism for issuing documents without constitutional backing.
The controversy erupted after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched the initiative at Vidhan Soudha, describing it as a first-of-its-kind programme aimed at protecting citizens’ rights by delivering permanent residence certificates directly to eligible households. The government has set up nearly 7,000 centres across the state, along with an online portal and WhatsApp-based service for citizens to obtain the certificates.
However, the BJP strongly opposed the move, questioning both its timing and legality. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was attempting to exploit the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by introducing a document distribution drive with far-reaching constitutional and security implications.
Ashoka argued that issues relating to citizenship, immigration and the status of foreigners fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Union Government. He maintained that the state government had exceeded its constitutional authority by introducing a permanent residence certificate programme during the revision of electoral rolls.
The BJP questioned why the Congress government had suddenly launched the scheme during the Election Commission’s verification exercise. Ashoka said the government must explain the urgency behind the programme and identify who stands to benefit. He alleged that the timing had raised serious doubts about the government’s intentions.
The Opposition also warned that the exercise could open the door to fraudulent documentation if adequate safeguards were not in place. Ashoka said indiscriminate issuance of permanent residence certificates could lead to administrative misuse, compromise the integrity of public records and even pose national security concerns if proper verification mechanisms were ignored.
Demanding immediate intervention, the BJP urged the state government to suspend the programme until it places the complete policy in the public domain and explains the legal provisions under which such certificates are being issued. The party insisted that any documentation exercise linked to residence should adhere to constitutional provisions and established legal procedures.
CM D.K. Shivakumar defended the initiative, asserting that the objective was to ensure eligible citizens receive essential documents without having to make repeated visits to government offices. He said politics should not overshadow the rights of ordinary people and maintained that identity documents are essential for accessing welfare schemes and exercising democratic rights.
The Chief Minister said the permanent residence certificate is one of the documents recognised by the Election Commission during voter enrolment and maintained that issuing such certificates falls within the responsibility of the state government. “Your vote is your right. Your vote is your life. Our government guarantees both,” he said.
According to the government, permanent residence certificates will be distributed through nearly 7,000 centres across Karnataka beginning Tuesday. Eligible residents can also apply through Seva Kendras, hobli-level facilitation centres, the dedicated website and the newly introduced WhatsApp service. Booth Level Officers have also been tasked with distributing application forms to eligible beneficiaries.
Shivakumar said Karnataka had become the first state in the country to undertake a free doorstep delivery programme for permanent residence certificates. He said the initiative would reduce the burden on citizens by bringing government services directly to their homes.
The Chief Minister further argued that omission from electoral rolls could deprive citizens of several government benefits, so documentation was essential to safeguard welfare entitlements and democratic participation.
Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the government had established multiple channels to enable eligible citizens to obtain the certificates conveniently and insisted that the programme was intended purely as a citizen service initiative.
