CPI(M) has said that SIR process had undermined the principle of universal adult franchise and resulted in deletion of voters from poor, migrant, minority, Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalised sections due to lack of prescribed documents. File
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The CPI(M) on Thursday (May 28, 2026) sharply criticised the Supreme Court's verdict upholding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, terming it a "travesty of justice" and a "body blow to democracy" while announcing a nationwide campaign to defend voting rights and press for electoral reforms.A statement issued by the party's Politburo claimed that the apex court, by upholding the SIR process, had granted "constitutional legitimacy" to what it described as large-scale disenfranchisement, exclusion and intimidation of vulnerable citizens."The judgement delivered by the Supreme Court upholding the SIR of electoral rolls is a travesty of justice. By granting constitutional legitimacy to a process that has led to large-scale disenfranchisement, exclusion, and intimidation of vulnerable citizens in various states, the apex court has seriously compromised its expected role as the guardian of democratic rights and constitutional guarantees ," the CPI(M) said.It said the key issue before the court was whether the right to vote could be subjected to "arbitrary bureaucratic suspicion and mass documentary scrutiny".According to the party, the SIR process had undermined the principle of universal adult franchise and resulted in deletion of voters from poor, migrant, minority, Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalised sections due to lack of prescribed documents."The entire SIR process lacked transparency," the statement alleged.The CPI(M) further said the top court had overlooked reports of deletion of names of "legitimate voters" without adequate notice and the difficulties faced by marginalised citizens in completing verification procedures.Introduction of logical discrepancyReferring to the SIR exercise in West Bengal, the CPI(M) criticised what it called the introduction of the notion of "logical discrepancy" based on "untested software" and algorithms.The party alleged that more than one crore voters in the State had been classified as doubtful and claimed that 27 lakh eventually lost voting rights despite seeking judicial remedy.The CPI(M) also objected to the court's direction asking the Election Commission (EC) to submit names of deleted voters to concerned authorities for citizenship verification.It argued that while the court had observed that determination of citizenship lies outside the Election Commission's powers and falls under the Union Home Ministry, the broader endorsement of the SIR process contradicted that position."This move forces all of them to prove their citizenship, which in a way leads to surreptitious introduction of the National Registry of Citizens (NRC)," the party said.The CPI(M) further alleged that the verdict failed to address concerns over "eroding public confidence" in the neutrality and independence of the EC.Announcing its political response, the party said it was decided during its recent Central Committee meet that a nationwide campaign would be launched to defend the right to vote and demand comprehensive electoral reforms."The Party will seek to mobilise like-minded parties and forces in this nationwide struggle," the statement said. Published - May 28, 2026 06:40 pm IST
