Bihar SIR: An Attempt to Push Marginalised Citizens Away from the Foundation of ...
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[*]What’s happening in Bihar is not a revision of the voter list, nor is it a routine process; it’s a complete rewriting of the voter list, requiring considerable time.
[*]Preparations for SIR have begun in Assam, UP, West Bengal, Delhi and the southern states, but adequate attention has not been paid to the required standards, procedures, and protocols.
[*]Without addressing these issues, it would be inappropriate to even consider repeating this revision outside Bihar.
The foundation of democracy in India rests on the right to vote for every adult citizen. Since independence, the objective of our democracy has been to include all adult citizens in the electoral rolls, also known as the Universal Adult Franchise. However, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process initiated in Bihar has attempted to shake this foundation.
According to a notification issued by the Election Commission (EC) on June 24, the SIR process will be implemented across the country. The EC, after meeting with the CEOs of all states, has set the qualifying date (for voter lists) as January 1, 2026.
Preparations for SIR have begun in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, and the southern states, but adequate attention has not been paid to the required standards, procedures, and protocols. Without addressing these issues, it would be inappropriate to even consider repeating this revision outside Bihar.
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