New Delhi: Two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, flagged multiple issues concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists across various states, including the deletion of names. However, officials stated that all decisions pertaining to the pan-India revision process were made unanimously by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the remarks by the officials follow a media report alleging that the two Election Commissioners had formally objected to the ECI’s steps on 14 occasions over a 10-month period during the SIR. Sources within the Election Commission maintained that all decisions, including those related to the SIR, received the approval of all three Commissioners – the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners.
The officials elaborated that the concerns raised by Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi specifically related to decisions concerning the deletion of voters’ names during the cleanup of electoral rolls and the management of the voter database. They emphasized that the Election Commission operates under a legal framework, including a Supreme Court judgment, which mandates that decisions should ideally be reached through consensus. If unanimity cannot be achieved, the majority view prevails.
A report published by The Indian Express detailed that within the three-member Election Commission itself, questions were repeatedly raised regarding the SIR of electoral rolls by Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi. While the national rollout of the SIR has been overseen by all three Commissioners, the report indicated that Sandhu and Joshi had formally recorded at least 14 objections over the past ten months, with four objections reportedly raised on a single day. These objections pertained to decisions and orders they claimed were issued without their full knowledge.
The Special Intensive Revision process aims to ensure accuracy and completeness of electoral rolls nationwide. However, the process has drawn criticism from opposition parties. These political groups have alleged that the SIR is being manipulated to disproportionately affect voters who do not align with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, raising concerns about potential partisan influence on the electoral process.
The Chenab Times News Desk