'Entire noise is made by parties that couldn't win': Justice Dhingra slams INDIA bloc
Former HC Judge Shiv Narayan Dhingra calls INDIA bloc's protests against the Election Commission a "media spectacle" and "show business.
Former Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra, has launched a scathing attack on the opposition INDIA bloc, dismissing their recent protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI) as nothing more than a politically motivated "media spectacle."
The controversy erupted following the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which the opposition has alleged is being used to facilitate "mass voter deletion." However, Justice Dhingra countered these claims, suggesting that the agitation is being driven by political entities rather than the actual electorate.
"A Purpose of Drama, Not Resolution"
Speaking to the media, Justice Dhingra argued that the protests staged at Jantar Mantar and the subsequent march to the ECI headquarters were designed for visibility rather than addressing genuine grievances. He noted that if voters truly felt excluded, legal remedies were readily available.
"This entire noise is not being made by voters. It is being made by those political parties that could not win the election. If the voter has any grievance, the remedy is there. If your name is not there, you can tell the Election Commission, 'I have been wrongly excluded.' There is a remedy available," Justice Dhingra stated.
The former judge further characterized the opposition's tactics as "show business," claiming the goal was to create "drama" rather than seek structural resolutions to electoral concerns.
The Mandate of the Special Intensive Revision
Addressing the core of the opposition's complaint—the SIR process itself—Justice Dhingra emphasized that the exercise is not an arbitrary move by the ECI, but a statutory obligation mandated by Parliament. He explained that the Election Commission is legally required to revise electoral rolls every ten years to ensure accuracy.
According to Justice Dhingra, the primary objectives of the SIR are to:
- Remove the names of deceased persons from the rolls.
- Verify the inclusion of new voters.
- Ensure that no non-citizen holds the right to vote.
"By condemning the SIR itself, saying that SIR should not be there, is only for the purpose of ensuring that the Election Commission should not be allowed to function," he remarked, adding that the ECI is simply following the mandates given by law.
Clash Over Meeting Protocols
The tension also extended to the logistics of how opposition leaders sought to meet with the ECI. Justice Dhingra highlighted a pattern of confrontation regarding meeting appointments, citing a previous instance in 2025 where a request from 300 MPs was met with a request from the ECI to send a smaller, manageable delegation of 30 members.
He criticized the INDIA bloc for refusing to follow standard protocols, noting that the ECI has its own established offices and conference rooms. He questioned why the commission should be expected to meet at the Parliament Annexe simply because the opposition demanded it.
Justice Dhingra concluded by stating that the ECI had actually attempted to accommodate the opposition by allowing them to submit a memorandum to prevent the situation from becoming overwhelmed by shouting and sheer numbers. However, he alleged that the opposition refused to submit it through official channels, further proving that their intent was not to raise grievances, but to "create a scene."