The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently clarified that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is not a form of citizenship screening. Instead, it is a routine exercise aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the voter lists.
The SIR is a comprehensive voter verification initiative undertaken by the ECI. This process includes house-to-house enumeration, the use of pre-filled verification forms, online submissions, and re-verification of existing electoral data. The ECI derives its authority to conduct such revisions from Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, which provide it with the necessary powers when routine updates are insufficient.
According to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, specifically Sections 16 and 19, only Indian citizens who are ordinarily resident in a constituency are eligible for inclusion in the electoral rolls. Section 16 explicitly disqualifies non-citizens from being registered as voters, reinforcing the need for integrity in the electoral process.
The ongoing SIR aims to rectify legacy data that has accumulated since the last nationwide house-to-house revision conducted from 2002 to 2004. This includes removing deceased voters, individuals who have permanently moved, and addressing duplicate registrations and statistical inaccuracies in the electoral rolls.
Despite the ECI's efforts, opposition parties have raised concerns, particularly regarding pending Supreme Court hearings related to Bihar’s SIR, alleging that large-scale deletions of voters have occurred without corresponding additions.
The ECI has stated that the guidelines governing the SIR are constitutional and focused on maintaining accurate electoral rolls. These rolls are essential for conducting free and fair elections, a fundamental feature of the Constitution. The Commission highlighted that SIR exercises are initiated based on "felt necessities" to uphold the credibility of the electoral process.
The ECI clarified that the Union government's authority under Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, is limited to cases of voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship. Thus, all other citizenship verification aspects for electoral purposes fall under the ECI's jurisdiction.
The Commission reaffirmed that its authority to scrutinize citizenship for voter registration arises from Article 324, which grants it supervisory and controlling power over elections, in conjunction with Article 326. It asserted that no law enacted by Parliament can limit these powers, and even Parliament's legislative authority under Article 327 must operate within the ECI's constitutional mandate.
The ECI described the SIR as a voter-friendly exercise, noting that electors are typically required only to verify and sign pre-filled forms provided by Booth Level Officers. The Commission emphasized the importance of excluding non-citizens, deceased individuals, and those who have permanently shifted residences from the electoral rolls, as mere enrolment does not automatically confer voting rights. The scrutiny of citizenship within the SIR is strictly for voter registration purposes and does not determine an individual's citizenship status under law.
Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, stipulate that only Indian citizens who are ordinarily resident in a constituency can be registered as voters, explicitly barring non-citizens from electoral rolls.
Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, addresses the termination of Indian citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, empowering the Central government to regulate how an Indian citizen acquires foreign citizenship.
Q1. What is the purpose of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
Answer: The SIR aims to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls by verifying voter information through house-to-house enumeration, thus maintaining free and fair elections.
Q2. Who is eligible to be registered as a voter in India?
Answer: Only Indian citizens who are ordinarily resident in a constituency are eligible for voter registration, as stipulated by the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Q3. How does the ECI ensure the integrity of electoral rolls?
Answer: The ECI employs various methods, including the removal of deceased voters and duplicate registrations, to maintain accurate electoral rolls during the SIR process.
Q4. What are the legal provisions governing voter registration in India?
Answer: The Representation of the People Act, 1950, specifically Sections 16 and 19, outlines the eligibility criteria for voter registration and disqualifies non-citizens.
Q5. How does the SIR impact non-citizens?
Answer: The SIR is designed to exclude non-citizens from electoral rolls, ensuring that only eligible Indian citizens can participate in elections.
Question 1: What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
A) A method to register non-citizens
B) A large-scale voter verification exercise
C) A process for acquiring foreign citizenship
D) An election campaign strategy
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: Which Article grants the ECI the authority to conduct elections?
A) Article 16
B) Article 19
C) Article 324
D) Article 9
Correct Answer: C
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