124 Ex-Civil Servants Defend Election Commission and SIR Process
124 former IAS and IFS officers issue an open letter defending the ECI and the Special Intensive Revision process against claims of vote rigging.
In a significant move to address growing political debates regarding electoral integrity, a group of 124 former civil servants, including officers from the IAS, IFS, and other allied services, have issued an open letter to the citizens of India. The group has come forward to defend the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questioning allegations of vote rigging that lack credible evidence.
A Transformation from the Era of Booth Capturing
The former officers highlighted the massive evolution of India's democratic process. They noted that the country has moved far beyond the old days of booth capturing, ballot box stuffing, and widespread election-related violence. According to the letter, the modern electoral system is protected by several robust safeguards, including:
- The presence of polling agents at booths.
- Strict sealing protocols for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
- High-level security for strong-rooms.
- Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) verification processes.
To illustrate this progress, the officers pointed to the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. They noted that these polls were conducted without the need for re-polling and achieved the highest voter turnout recorded since 1951, serving as a testament to improved election management and institutional strength.
"A System Cannot Be Honest When You Win and Rigged When You Lose"
The letter addressed the perceived bias in election criticisms. The former officials argued that a system cannot be deemed honest during a victory and suddenly labeled as rigged during a defeat. They reminded the public that the party currently ruling at the Centre has lost several state elections under the supervision of this same Election Commission.
Furthermore, they cited the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the ruling party failed to secure an outright majority on its own, as further evidence that the electoral process remains functional and competitive.
Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
A major point of contention has been the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The former civil servants described this exercise as a vital necessity to ensure accuracy by removing deceased voters, duplicate entries, and those who have permanently moved away. They provided specific data from the Bihar revision exercise to support the necessity of the process:
- Deceased Electors Identified: Approximately 22 lakh.
- Duplicate Entries Removed: Around 7 lakh.
- New Voters Added: Approximately 21.5 lakh.
The officers warned that inaccurate rolls actually create more opportunities for impersonation, which ultimately undermines the integrity of the vote. They emphasized that the SIR process includes multiple layers of protection against wrongful exclusion, such as the publication of draft rolls, periods for filing objections, formal hearings, and the right to appeal.
The Duty of Proof and Protecting Institutions
In a powerful closing sentiment, the letter stated, “Questioning is every citizen’s right. Proving is the accuser’s duty.” The former officials urged that any allegations of electoral manipulation must be backed by verifiable evidence and pursued through legal channels, such as filing election petitions in the High Courts.
They cautioned that making unsubstantiated and sweeping allegations could severely damage public confidence in democratic institutions. Instead of broad accusations, they called for evidence-based debates and urged citizens to take an active role by verifying their own names on the electoral rolls and assisting neighbors and migrant workers in doing the same.