IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

20 Dec 2025 : Do not rush it

 Editorial 1: Do not rush it

Context

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) needs additional time to avoid widespread voter exclusions.

 

Introduction

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has renewed focus on balancing accuracy and inclusion in India’s democratic process. While intended to clean voter lists, large-scale deletions, procedural rigidities, and compressed timelines have raised concerns about unintended exclusions and the protection of vulnerable voters’ rights.

 

Release of draft rolls and scale of deletions

  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) released draft electoral rolls for seven States and UTs after the first phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
  • Large-scale deletions were reported: over 97 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu and 58 lakh in West Bengal
  • Deletions ranged from 7.5% in West Bengal to 15% in Tamil Nadu, with urban areas like Kolkata most affected
  • Clarity on gender-wise impact and reasons for deletions awaits detailed booth-wise data analysis

 

Procedural concerns and exclusion risks

  • In West Bengal, many enumeration forms were flagged as unmapped or having doubtful linkages with older rolls
  • A compressed 53-day hearing window raises the risk of widespread exclusions
  • Strict insistence on citizenship documents, including parents’ birth proof for post-1987 births, may exclude genuine voters
  • Vulnerable groups such as migrants, illiterate voters, and married women face higher disenfranchisement risks

 

Bihar experience and gender imbalance

  • The Supreme Court’s intervention, allowing Aadhaar as valid ID, reduced potential deletions in Bihar
  • Despite this, 68 lakh names were deleted and 24 lakh added or corrected
  • The female gender ratio dropped from 907 to 892, indicating procedural shortcomings in the SIR process

 

Judicial directions and the case for extension

  • The Court’s advice to adopt a “sympathetic view” and consider ground realities merits serious attention by the ECI
  • Reliance on party Booth Level Agents’ data instead of government databases like death registrations weakens accuracy
  • Logistical pressures, tight deadlines for BLOs, and overlaps with local body elections (as in Kerala) strengthen the case for extending timelines
  • The unresolved issue of the constitutionality of SIR needs early judicial clarity to ensure certainty for both voters and the ECI

 

Conclusion

Safeguarding electoral integrity must not result in disenfranchisement. The Election Commission of India (ECI)should adopt a flexible, data-driven, and empathetic approach, aligned with judicial guidance and ground realities. Early clarity on the constitutionality of SIR and extended timelines can strengthen democratic credibility and voter confidence.