BENGALURU: Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee Prof C N R Rao, 92, has been summoned for a hearing to establish his identity after his name was flagged during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.Rao has been issued a notice citing a self-name mismatch. The 2002 electoral roll records him as “Prof C N R Rao”, while the current roll carries an additional “f”, listing him as “Proff C N R Rao”.A self-name mismatch occurs when the details provided by an elector in the SIR enumeration form, based on the 2002 roll, do not match the corresponding entry in the current electoral roll.

Under the procedure, only the person named in the notice can attend the hearing. Rao has consequently been asked to appear in person at a venue in Malleshwaram near the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).Rao was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2014 and is the third scientist to receive the country’s highest civilian honour.Economist Amartya Sen was also flagged for a similar spelling discrepancy. However, the Election Commission of India has said he has been exempted from appearing in person.