Former Chief Election Commissioner Dr. S.Y. Quraishi said the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is exclusionary and threatens Indian democracy.
The critique comes at a time of significant electoral reform debates in India. Quraishi said the current approach to voter roll maintenance undermines constitutional rights and erodes the transparency required for fair elections.
Speaking in New Delhi, Quraishi described the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, as a process of "democracy tinkering" [1]. He said the exercise is being used to delete millions of voters unfairly [1]. According to Quraishi, the SIR process is focused more on exclusion than inclusion [2].
Beyond the technicalities of voter rolls, Quraishi highlighted a systemic failure in how the government handles electoral changes. He said the lack of public engagement is a primary hurdle for major reforms, such as the proposed "One Nation One Election" initiative.
"What is missing is communication," Quraishi said [3].
He said the SIR process has played havoc with democracy by prioritizing the removal of names over the protection of the franchise [2]. This shift, he suggests, contradicts the fundamental purpose of the Election Commission to ensure every eligible citizen can vote.
Quraishi's remarks were part of a broader discussion including his work and a book titled "A Hundred Memories" [4]. He said that without transparent communication and a focus on inclusion, the integrity of the democratic process remains at risk.
“"The SIR process is focused more on exclusion than inclusion."”
The criticism from a former Chief Election Commissioner suggests a deepening rift between the administrative execution of voter roll maintenance and the constitutional mandate of universal suffrage. If the Special Intensive Revision is perceived as a tool for disenfranchisement rather than accuracy, it could lead to legal challenges and a loss of public trust in the legitimacy of future election results.
