In order to protect the integrity of the electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the entire country.
“The Commission has now decided to begin the Special Intensive Revision in the entire country for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of the electoral rolls,” ECI said in an order dated July 24.
It stated, since the general elections to the Legislative Assembly in Bihar is expected in later part of this year, hence the Commission has decided to conduct Special Intensive Revision in the state of Bihar as per the Guidelines and schedule attach.
“The schedule for the Special Intensive Revision in the rest of the country shall be issued separately in due Course,” it added.
The ECI further said that maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll is fundamental for the conduct of free and fair elections.
“The electoral machinery, eligibility conditions, manner and procedure for preparation of electoral rolls are provided under the RPA 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1980 TER, 1960, framed under the RPA 1950,” it stated in the order.
This comes amid the uproar by the Opposition over the alleged discrepancies in the process of voter list updating during SIR in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections later this year.
Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav criticized the SIR in Bihar and even hinted at boycotting the 2025 elections in the state.
Meanwhile during the ongoing monsoon session in Parliament, the Opposition leaders including INDIA block staged a protest in the House complex where they registered their protest by tearing down the papers with SIR written on them, into the disposal bin.
Leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also launched a protest march in the complex against the voter list update process in Bihar, demanding special discussion on the issue in both the houses.
The last intensive revision in Bihar, was conducted by the Commission in the year 2003 with reference to Jan 1, 2003 as the qualifying date. The Commission has previously exercised its powers under enabling statutes in the years such as 1952-56, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1983-84, 1987-89. 1992, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004 to undertake Intensive Revision of electoral rolls for all or some pans of the country for afresh preparation of electoral rolls through enumeration.
