Hyderabad: On June 24, the Election Commission of India (ECI) unexpectedly announced a complete overhaul of the electoral roll in Bihar ahead of the upcoming State Assembly elections, scheduled to be held by the end of this year.
The exercise has been termed a Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The ECI stated that the last thorough review of Bihar’s electoral roll was conducted in 2003, and no similar exercise has taken place since then. The decision effectively nullified the registrations of millions of voters added since 2003 unless they can promptly provide fresh proof of their citizenship, identity and place of residence.
Why does ECI deem SIR necessary?
The Election Commission argued that the past 22 years have seen rapid urbanisation and increased migration, leading to large-scale additions and deletions in the electoral rolls. This has raised the risk of duplicate entries, with many individuals moving from villages to cities.
Additionally, the deaths of numerous voters have not been updated in the records. The commission also deemed SIR necessary to identify and remove illegal immigrants from other countries who may have been erroneously included in the electoral roll, beginning with Bihar.
What is the controversy around SIR?
The entire controversy now revolves around the demand for documents from voters who were added to the electoral roll after 2003.
According to the Election Commission, citizens born before July 1, 1987, who were not included in the 2003 voter list, will have to provide proof of their date and place of birth. All such voters would be at least 38 years old today.
Those born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, will have to submit proof of their own date and place of birth, as well as that of either one of their parents. These individuals are currently between the ages of approximately 21 and 38.
Additionally, citizens born after December 2, 2004, must provide proof of their own date and place of birth, along with the same details for both parents.
This requirement for extensive documentation has sparked controversy, with opposition parties and several civil society groups questioning how such documents can be arranged on such short notice.
Supreme Court to hear SIR petitions on July 10
The Supreme Court has scheduled an urgent hearing on July 10 to consider petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The petitions were filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, activist Yogendra Yadav and organisations such as the PUCL and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), with support from the Congress, CPI(M), and other opposition parties.
The petitioners argue that the exercise could lead to mass disenfranchisement, as over 4 crore voters may be required to prove their citizenship under a tight deadline. They have also raised concerns that commonly accepted identity documents like Aadhaar and voter ID cards are being rejected. The Election Commission, however, maintains that the process is being conducted per its constitutional mandate.
What is ECI’s response to backlash?
On Sunday, July 7, the Election Commission clarified that the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar is ‘being implemented smoothly at the ground level’ and that ‘there is no change in instructions.’
Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, clarified that the revision process will proceed strictly following the ECI’s June 24 directive. He stated that voters can fill and submit their enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by July 25. However, supporting documents can also be submitted during the claims and objections period in August, when the draft electoral roll will be published.
“The existing voters will have the opportunity to submit their documents even after submitting their enumeration forms,” the CEO said, reiterating that all activities related to the SIR are being conducted as per the Election Commission’s directive. His clarification came in response to confusion triggered by advertisements published in certain newspapers.
