Former CEC Quraishi Questions SIR Process, Says It Threatens Democratic Participation

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi has criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process is focused more on excluding voters rather than ensuring maximum participation in elections. Quraishi said the exercise has affected the principles of democracy and raised concerns over the impact of voter exclusions on free and fair elections. Speaking in an interview with PTI Videos ahead of the launch of his new book India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir, Quraishi said the current approach of the Election Commission appears to prioritise the number of names removed from electoral rolls.

He alleged that the emphasis seemed to be on "how many people can be thrown out" rather than ensuring that eligible citizens remain registered as voters. Quraishi described the ongoing SIR process as "unfair" and claimed that it was creating a situation where being registered as a voter appeared to be a privilege granted by the Election Commission rather than a constitutional right. He argued that voting rights are fundamental to democratic participation and that electoral processes should be designed to prevent eligible citizens from being removed due to minor errors or documentation issues.

Recalling the approach followed during his tenure, Quraishi said election officials were instructed to avoid excluding genuine voters because of small mistakes in details such as spelling, age or addresses. He said that if officials were satisfied about the identity of a voter, minor discrepancies were generally overlooked to ensure that no eligible person was denied the right to vote. "In our time it was a very clear policy - our instruction to the polling staff used to be that if somebody comes introducing himself or herself and there was some minor error in the spelling, age or address or something, but you know that the person is the right person, ignore all mistakes. So that no voter is excluded," Quraishi said.

Also Read: Congress Calls Modi Government Policies Anti-People Amid Growing Inflation Concerns

The former CEC alleged that the current process has reversed that approach by placing greater importance on removals from electoral lists. He claimed that large numbers of voters have been excluded during the exercise and questioned whether such an approach aligns with the objective of strengthening democracy and ensuring inclusive elections. Quraishi's remarks come amid an ongoing debate over electoral roll revisions, with supporters of intensive verification arguing that such exercises are necessary to remove duplicate, incorrect or ineligible entries from voter lists.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about the possibility of genuine voters being left out due to procedural difficulties or documentation requirements. The Election Commission has not yet issued a detailed response to Quraishi's allegations. The SIR exercise remains a politically sensitive issue, with discussions centred on balancing the need for accurate electoral rolls with the constitutional principle of ensuring that every eligible citizen can exercise their right to vote. As the process continues, scrutiny over voter inclusion and exclusion is expected to remain a key issue in India's electoral discourse.

Also Read: ICE Ordered To Suspend Most Vehicle Stops Following Two Fatal Shootings Under Trump