{"id":5093,"date":"2025-08-09T23:43:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5093"},"modified":"2025-08-10T21:28:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T15:58:17","slug":"ecis-special-revision-in-bihar-could-strip-2-97-crore-voters-of-rights-warn-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5093","title":{"rendered":"ECI\u2019s Special Revision in Bihar Could Strip 2.97 Crore Voters of Rights, Warn Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar Sparks Concerns Over Voter Disenfranchisement<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Experts Warn of Undemocratic Implications of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bangalore, [Date]<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A panel of democracy advocates and former bureaucrats has raised serious concerns over the Election Commission of India\u2019s (ECI) implementation of the\u00a0Special Intensive Revision (SIR)<\/strong>\u00a0of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it an unconstitutional move that could disenfranchise millions of voters.<\/p>\n

At a discussion organized by the\u00a0Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity \u2013 Karnataka (FDCA-K)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0CIVIC Bangalore<\/strong>, experts alleged that the SIR, a newly introduced process, bypasses established electoral laws and risks undermining democratic principles.<\/p>\n

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SIR: A Threat to Voting Rights?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Under the SIR,\u00a02.97 crore voters<\/strong>\u00a0enrolled before 2003 are being subjected to additional scrutiny, requiring them to submit fresh documents to retain their voting rights. Failure to comply could lead to their removal from the electoral rolls\u2014a move critics argue is arbitrary and lacks legal basis.<\/p>\n

Jagadeep Chhokar<\/strong>, founder trustee of the\u00a0Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)<\/strong>, stated:<\/p>\n

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\u201cVoters used to decide who will form the government, but through the SIR in Bihar, the Election Commission will decide who has the right to form the government.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He emphasized that the ECI\u2019s role is limited to managing electoral rolls\u2014not determining citizenship, which falls under the\u00a0Home Ministry\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0jurisdiction. ADR has filed a\u00a0Public Interest Litigation (PIL)<\/strong>\u00a0challenging the SIR, arguing that it violates due process.<\/p>\n

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Politicization of Electoral Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A major concern raised was the involvement of\u00a01.5 lakh Booth-Level Agents (BLAs)<\/strong>\u2014appointed by political parties\u2014and\u00a04 lakh volunteers<\/strong>\u00a0in collecting and verifying voter forms. Experts questioned their neutrality, warning that the process risks being manipulated for partisan gains.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe electoral roll preparation has been illegally handed over to political parties and volunteers,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Chhokar said, adding that while the current rolls need correction, the\u00a0\u201cintention, method, and timing of the SIR\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0are suspect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Legal and Procedural Violations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Existing laws mandate that voters can only be removed after being given a\u00a0notice and a personal hearing<\/strong>. A\u00a01995 Supreme Court ruling<\/strong>\u00a0reinforced that voting rights cannot be revoked without due process.<\/p>\n

Mr. M.G. Devasahayam (Retd. IAS)<\/strong>, Coordinator of\u00a0Citizens\u2019 Commission on Elections<\/strong>, called the SIR a\u00a0\u201cpanic reaction\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0by the government, implemented without proper guidelines.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe electoral system is being weaponized to undermine democracy. The SIR lacks definition, rules, and procedures\u2014it is being pushed through in undue haste.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He also criticized\u00a0Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)<\/strong>, alleging vulnerabilities that could allow\u00a0false votes<\/strong>\u00a0to be injected, and questioned the reliability of\u00a0VVPATs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Call for Citizen Action<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prof. Saleem Engineer<\/strong>, National General Secretary of FDCA, accused the SIR of\u00a0selectively excluding voters<\/strong>\u00a0rather than expanding participation.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe Home Ministry is pushing its agenda through the ECI, which must remain neutral.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Invoking the spirit of the\u00a01942 Quit India Movement<\/strong>, he urged citizens to\u00a0resist divisive forces<\/strong>\u00a0and reclaim democratic power.<\/p>\n

The event was also attended by\u00a0Dr. Belgami Mohammad Saad<\/strong>,\u00a0Mr. M.F. Pasha (FDCA-K)<\/strong>, and\u00a0Ms. Kathyayini Chamaraj (CIVIC Bangalore)<\/strong>, who echoed concerns over the erosion of electoral integrity.<\/p>\n

\n

Conclusion: A Democracy at Risk?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The SIR in Bihar has ignited a fierce debate on\u00a0electoral fairness, bureaucratic overreach, and voter rights<\/strong>. With legal challenges underway and civil society mobilizing, the controversy underscores the fragile balance between\u00a0election management<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0democratic safeguards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As India approaches another election cycle, the question remains:\u00a0Will the Election Commission uphold its constitutional duty\u2014or become a tool for exclusion?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp]\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Key Quotes:<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Jagadeep Chhokar (ADR):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cVoters decide governments, but through SIR, the Election Commission will decide who forms the government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSIR is illegal\u2014it hands electoral roll preparation to political parties, violating due process.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. M.G. Devasahayam (Retd. IAS):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe electoral system is being weaponized to undermine democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSIR is a panic reaction\u2014rushed without rules, training, or transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Prof. Saleem Engineer (FDCA):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of including voters, SIR is excluding them\u2014Home Ministry\u2019s agenda is at play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must reclaim democracy like in 1942\u2014resist divisive forces now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar Sparks Concerns Over Voter Disenfranchisement Experts Warn of Undemocratic Implications of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Bangalore, [Date]\u00a0\u2013 A panel of democracy advocates and former bureaucrats has raised serious concerns over the Election Commission of India\u2019s (ECI) implementation of the\u00a0Special Intensive Revision (SIR)\u00a0of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it an unconstitutional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[198],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bengaluru"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5093"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5093\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5127,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5093\/revisions\/5127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}