Electoral roll purge & special intensive revision (SIR): Explained

Source: The Hindu

📌 GS Paper Mapping for UPSC
  • GS Paper 2: RPA, 1950 Sec 21, Article 324, Electoral Roll revision types, Powers and functioning of ECI, Right to vote

Why in News?

A second affidavit filed by Election Commission in Supreme Court in a petition by TMC MP Derek O’Brien has revealed data on West Bengal SIR exercise. Also, Delhi SIR has flagged 33.1 lakh electors including CM Rekha Gupta and former CM Arvind Kejriwal for age-gap discrepancy.

Authentic Data:

Total voters excluded on ground of “logical discrepancies”: ∼27 lakh
Total appeals before Tribunals: 38.31 lakh
Pending appeals: >37.05 lakh
Delhi: 33.1 lakh flagged, CM’s name validated after physical verification

    Background: What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR) & Logical Discrepancy?

    SIR is house-to-house verification under Section 21 of RPA, 1950. It is an intensive verification of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India.

    What is SIR?
    SIR is house-to-house verification under Section 21 of RPA, 1950.

    What is “Logical Discrepancy”?
    Logical discrepancies include age gap between parent-child unrealistic, duplicate EPIC, gender mismatch etc. ECI’s software flags:

    • Age gap between father-mother-child unrealistic (e.g., 12-year-old parent)
    • Same photo for multiple EPICs
    • Gender mismatch vs name
    • Duplicate entries

    Mains Analysis: Issues

      Pros of SIR:

      • Cleans electoral roll, removes dead/duplicate/shifted voters
      • Ensures one person one vote principle

      Cons / Concerns:

      • Scale of exclusion: 27 lakh is huge – risk of disenfranchisement of genuine poor/migrant voters who lack documents.
      • Burden of Proof: Shifts burden to voter to prove citizenship/residence, against liberal democracy.
      • Capacity Crisis: 19 tribunals have decided only 1.26 lakh in 6 months. At this rate, 37 lakh will take years – violates timely electoral justice before 2026 Assembly polls.
      • Politicization: Opposition alleges SIR used as tool for voter suppression, targeting Bengali-speaking migrants.

      Way Forward:

      • Increase tribunals
      • Use technology – Aadhaar linking (with SC safeguards)
      • Allow more time, publish draft rolls with reasoned orders, not just “logical discrepancy”.

      Prelims Pointer: Article 324 gives ECI power of superintendence of elections. Appellate authority is District Magistrate under RPA.

      Mains Practice Question:

      Q. The large-scale exclusions in SIR raise a conflict between electoral purity and universal franchise. Critically examine. (15 marks)