Electoral roll purges raise constitutional questions
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is under scrutiny for removing lakhs of voters from electoral rolls using the term 'logical discrepancy' during its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, particularly in West Bengal and Bihar. Critics argue the ECI is exceeding its constitutional powers by demanding specific documents for citizenship proof, a responsibility of the Union Home Ministry. The article also highlights that conducting intensive revisions close to elections deviates from legal provisions, which mandate summary revisions during such periods, raising concerns about the fairness of elections.
Key Points
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been criticized for removing lakhs of voters from electoral rolls using 'logical discrepancy' during its Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
- The ECI is accused of exceeding its jurisdiction by determining citizenship proof, a power vested in the Union Home Ministry.
- The SIR process, particularly its timing close to elections, deviates from legal provisions that mandate summary revisions during election periods.
- Many voters, especially in rural areas, struggled to produce the ECI-mandated documents, leading to widespread deletions.
- The deletions, often without proper hearings, are seen as a denial of natural justice and a violation of statutory provisions, impacting free and fair elections.
Exam Facts
- The ECI used the term 'logical discrepancy' for voter deletions.
- Article 326 of the Constitution states citizenship as a basic requirement for voter registration.
- Section 21 of The Representation Of The People Act, 1950, and Rule 25 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, govern electoral roll revisions.
- Approximately 91 lakh voters were removed in West Bengal and 64 lakh in Bihar.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.