'Violation of Rights': Anand Sharma Demands Scrapping of SIR Electoral Revision
Former Union Minister Anand Sharma alleges the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls violates voters' rights and calls for its immediate scrap.
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has launched a scathing attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process is riddled with legal and constitutional flaws. Speaking in Shimla, Sharma called for the immediate scrapping of the exercise, claiming it threatens the fundamental right of eligible Indian citizens to participate in the democratic process.
Concerns Over Voter Deletions
Sharma emphasized that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is constitutionally obligated to ensure free and fair elections. However, he alleged that the current method of revision has created a significant "trust deficit." His primary concern lies in the potential deletion of voters' names, particularly affecting those who have only recently become eligible to vote.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Sharma mentioned a figure of 130 million voters, suggesting that the alleged disenfranchisement transcends mere political disputes and strikes at the heart of citizenship rights.
The 'Arbitrary' 2002 Reference Point
One of the most contentious points raised by the Congress leader is the use of the 2002 electoral rolls as a reference point for the current revision. Sharma questioned the legal basis for selecting a year from over two decades ago.
"Where does the statute say that the year 2002 has any particular significance? That was 24 years ago. How many Indians have been born since then?"
He argued that this choice is arbitrary and has left young people, who have become eligible to vote in the intervening years, feeling anxious and agitated.
Centralization and Lack of Transparency
Sharma further criticized the administrative shift in how electoral data is managed. He pointed out that the traditional system relied on a vast network of over one million Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to upload and verify data. In contrast, he claims the new system has centralized access to a dangerous degree.
The Breakdown of the Chain of Command
According to Sharma, the established chain of oversight—consisting of EROs, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and State Chief Electoral Officers—has been bypassed. He alleged that these officials have been denied adequate access to the database, leaving them powerless to correct discrepancies.
He questioned the feasibility of managing the electoral rolls of a nation of 1.5 billion people when control is concentrated in the hands of a few.
"Just three or four people are handling this in a country of 1.5 billion people, the largest democracy on the planet," Sharma stated, adding that if a citizen's name is deleted, the local ERO or State Chief Electoral Officer would be helpless to intervene. He demanded that full access to electoral data be restored to the designated officers to ensure transparency and accountability.