Over 1.5 cr. names off poll rolls in latest phase of SIR, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Over 1.5 crore names have been deleted from existing voter lists during the ongoing third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• The Election Commission is conducting 'SIR 3.0' in 16 States and three Union Territories.
• Draft lists published for 12 regions show 11.51% deletions, primarily due to absent, shifted, or deceased voters.
• Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest absolute deletions with 44.89 lakh names, while Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu had the highest proportional deletion at 29.64%.
• The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutional validity of the Election Commission's move to carry out SIR in March.

Detailed Insights:

• The Election Commission provides a window for citizens to submit claims and objections for additions and deletions after the publication of draft lists.
• Deletions in Andhra Pradesh included 22.30 lakh for shifting/absence, 15.22 lakh for deceased voters, and 7.37 lakh for multiple enrollments.
• Door-to-door verification has been extended in states like Delhi, Punjab, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, where draft lists are yet to be published.
• Previous SIR exercises have been conducted in other states including Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
• Assam underwent a "special revision" due to legalities related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• The SIR process has faced challenges from the Opposition and has been contested in various courts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and purify electoral rolls.
• Election Commission of India (ECI): An autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India.
• Electoral Roll: A comprehensive list of all eligible voters for a particular constituency, maintained by the ECI.