SIR's Exclusion of Citizens Is Made Possible by Complicity of Institutions, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is leading to the exclusion of citizens across various states.
• The Supreme Court, in its May 2026 ruling in ADR & Others vs ECI & Others, upheld the Election Commission of India's (ECI) power to conduct the SIR.
• The ruling expressed satisfaction with the ECI's procedure, placing significant trust in the poll body.
• The judgment directs the ECI to report the names of deleted persons to the Home Ministry for further adjudication.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court's decision is viewed as enabling state practices that may harm citizens by not acting as an effective arbiter between state power and citizen rights.
• The Court chose to repose trust in the ECI as a constitutional authority, overlooking the possibility of unreasonable practices undermining citizens' rights.
• The ruling failed to adequately consider the fundamental principle of representation and the importance of full inclusion in a democratic system.
• The SIR risks disproportionately affecting vulnerable sections like women, the poor, and the marginalized due to stringent documentation requirements.
• The judgment potentially allows the ECI and the government to "weaponize" the SIR exercise, pushing individuals into a zone of doubt and harassment.
• The process could create "SADs" (Shifted, Absent, Duplicate) individuals, impacting their access to welfare schemes and passports.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A process undertaken by the Election Commission of India to update and purify electoral rolls by identifying and removing ineligible voters.
• Electoral Rolls: Official lists of eligible voters for elections, maintained and periodically revised by the Election Commission of India.
• Representation: The democratic principle ensuring that citizens' voices and interests are reflected in governance through their elected representatives.
• Judicial Vigilance: The judiciary's active role in scrutinizing state actions and policies to protect citizens' fundamental rights and uphold constitutional principles.