Panaji: The Election Commission’s decision to issue a notice to Admiral Arun Prakash, a 1971 Indo–Pakistan war hero and former Chief of the Indian Navy, has sparked controversy in Goa. 
Despite being a permanent resident of the state for over two decades, the Veer Chakra awardee has been asked to appear in person before an election official for identity verification.
The notice has drawn criticism for requiring the 82-year-old former naval chief to present himself before officials, a move many have described as insensitive given his age and service record.
Reason Cited by Authorities
South Goa District Collector and Returning Officer Agnela Cleetus said the notice was issued because Admiral Prakash’s details could not be traced in the updated electoral rolls since 2002. As a result, his name was placed in the “unmapped” category, necessitating physical verification, officials explained.
Admiral Voices Concern on Social Media
Admiral Prakash expressed his displeasure over the move through a post on the social media platform X. He pointed out that both his and his wife’s names already appear in the 2026 draft electoral roll, questioning the need for fresh verification.
He also highlighted practical difficulties, stating that he and his 78-year-old wife had been asked to appear on different dates at an office located nearly 18 kilometres away. “At our age, this is simply not practical,” he said.
While stressing that he was not seeking any special consideration, the former naval chief said existing data collection methods under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise needed improvement. He added that he would nevertheless comply with the notice in accordance with the law.
Criticism from Veterans and Citizens
The incident triggered widespread criticism from retired military officers and members of the public. Several veterans pointed out that Admiral Prakash’s Pension Payment Order (PPO) and life certificate are already available in government databases, making physical verification unnecessary.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel T.S. Anand and others argued that election officials should have conducted the verification at the admiral’s residence instead of summoning a senior war veteran to an office.
Authorities Assure Review
Following the backlash, the district administration said the matter would be reviewed personally. The district collector stated that Admiral Prakash’s verification forms would be examined and that officials would contact him directly to resolve the issue.
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