By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, May 3, 2026: Civil society groups across India have issued a joint statement demanding an immediate halt to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling the process “exclusionary, undemocratic, non-transparent and unscientific.”
The press release, signed by over 300 individuals and organizations, warns that millions of voters have already been disenfranchised.
Nearly 60 million rightful voters deprived
The statement alleges that in the 10 states and three Union Territories where SIR has been conducted, “nearly 6 crore (60 million) rightful voters have been deprived of their right to franchise.”
In West Bengal alone, “about 35 lakh (3.5 million) voters seeking adjudication were denied verification for no fault of theirs. They lost their right to vote.”
Civil society leaders argue that the process has disproportionately affected minorities, Adivasis, Dalits, migrant workers, daily wage laborers, nomadic communities, and women.
“This is alarming. It seriously violates the diverse make up of our country and severely assaults the principle of universal adult franchise embedded in our constitution,” the statement reads.
The release also highlights cases where prominent citizens—including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, and cricketer Mohammed Shami—were issued deletion notices despite valid documentation.
Call for Supreme Court ruling before elections
The signatories demand that the Supreme Court conclude its pending hearing on the constitutional validity of SIR before any further electoral roll updates.
“No legitimate election process can be taken forward without the inclusion of all rightful voters,” the statement declares.
They propose that if SIR is to continue, it must be subject to “stringent provisions of audit and verification, as per the standards laid down by the CAG.”
Furthermore, they call for reinstatement of every rightful voter in states where SIR has already been completed.
The groups also advocate for a common voters list, beginning at the Gram Sabha (village assembly) level, to ensure transparency and prevent enrolment of “infiltrators.”
ECI accused of political bias
The press release accuses the Election Commission of being “a body politically aligned with the ruling dispensation.” It demands the removal of the current ECI and replacement with a mechanism under transparent parliamentary oversight.
Finally, the statement warns against alleged attempts to manipulate election results in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
“ECI’s continued disregard for the Constitution and Our Democracy will spark an all out struggle across the country,” the signatories caution.
Signatories
The statement is endorsed by 307 signatories, including former Supreme Court Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy, actor Prakash Raj, political economist Parakala Prabhakar, activist Teesta Setalvad, Gandhian Tushar Gandhi, and numerous academics, journalists, and grassroots organizations nationwide.
Observers say this joint call reflects mounting pressure on the Election Commission to address concerns of disenfranchisement and restore public trust in India’s electoral process.
(Photo by Public.Resource.Org / CC BY 2.0)