Unlike in Bihar, poll panel plans to meet parties before pan-India SIR, Pg 10.

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission (EC) is preparing for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• Unlike the Bihar SIR, the EC plans to consult with political parties through meetings with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) before the nationwide rollout.
• The Bihar SIR, launched in June, required all 7.89 crore registered electors to fill enumeration forms.
• Approximately 65 lakh names were deleted from Bihar's electoral rolls during the SIR due to various reasons like death or relocation.
• The legality of the EC's decision to conduct the SIR has been challenged in the Supreme Court by opposition parties.

Detailed Insights:

• The nationwide SIR aims to update electoral rolls by requiring all registered electors to fill new enumeration forms and submit eligibility documents.
• The Bihar SIR served as a pilot project, with the EC assessing its strategies and constraints in a conference with CEOs on September 10.
• Opposition parties argue that the SIR is an attempt to create a National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the "back door" and have questioned the EC's authority to check citizenship.
• The EC maintains that it is empowered by Article 326 to establish the citizenship of electors, ensuring only Indian citizens are on the rolls.
• The Bihar SIR required those registered after January 1, 2003, to submit documents establishing their date and/or place of birth, aligning with the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• The EC's counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court clarified that determining non-eligibility under Article 326 will not lead to cancellation of citizenship.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A comprehensive review and update of electoral rolls.
• Article 326: Constitutional provision stating only Indian citizens can be electors.
• National Register of Citizens (NRC): A register containing names of Indian citizens.