Reference Article: Editorial | The Hindu – Descent into farce: On the Election Commission of India, the SIR
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper II – Constitution, Elections, Democratic Institutions
GS Paper II – Role and Functioning of the Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories has exposed serious procedural, legal and constitutional concerns. Instead of strengthening electoral integrity, the exercise is generating confusion, distress and widespread suspicion, especially as it is being carried out close to Assembly elections in key States such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Procedural Chaos and Administrative Overreach
Several instances point to a breakdown of due process:
- Elderly voters in West Bengal were summoned to distant eligibility hearings despite submitting enrolment forms, forcing the ECI to order home verification later
- Hearings of “unmapped” voters had to be conditionally halted after public outrage
- Software-generated summons were issued in some States even though similar software was not used during Bihar’s SIR
- Civil servants flagged that software-driven deletions bypassed the statutory role of Electoral Registration Officers
The ad hoc and inconsistent use of technology, including unexplained shifts between different de-duplication and mapping software, has deepened mistrust in the process.
Large-Scale Deletions and Data Anomalies
Provisional figures reveal alarming trends:
- Over 6.5 crore deletions nationally, suggesting flawed methodology and weak implementation
- Uttar Pradesh alone saw 2.89 crore deletions, prompting postponement of draft roll publication
- Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, both net in-migration and urbanised States, saw 97 lakh and 73.7 lakh deletions respectively
Subsequent frantic additions of lakhs of names as “fresh inclusions” indicate that enumeration was concluded hastily and without adequate verification.
Constitutional Concerns and Judicial Responsibility
The manner in which SIR is being conducted raises fears that electoral roll revision is morphing into a de facto citizenship screening exercise. The Supreme Court’s earlier limited interventions focused mainly on Bihar’s implementation failures, without examining whether the SIR methodology itself meets constitutional standards. This restraint has allowed the same infirm process to be replicated nationwide.
Implications for Universal Adult Franchise
Shifting the burden of proof onto citizens, arbitrary deletions, and opaque technological interventions threaten the foundational principle of universal adult franchise. Without urgent judicial scrutiny and course correction, the credibility of electoral rolls — and public faith in India’s democratic process — stands severely compromised.
Sample UPSC Mains Question
Critically examine the challenges posed by the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to the principles of universal adult franchise and electoral fairness. Suggest measures to strengthen transparency and constitutional accountability in electoral roll management.