Congress Alleges ECINet Curbs ERO Powers, Raises Concerns Over Electoral Laws

The Congress on Friday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of violating provisions governing electoral rolls over the functioning of its ECINet voter-roll system, with party general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh questioning the commission’s decision to set up a committee to review the platform’s legal compliance. Ramesh alleged that the ECI had earlier described ECINet as being developed in accordance with electoral laws and the Constitution.

Ramesh referred to the ECI’s September 26 decision to constitute a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT. The committee has been tasked with reviewing ECINet to verify whether it complies with relevant Acts and Rules. The ECI has said field officers have role-based access to the system according to their statutory powers and that further flexibility would be introduced if required.

The Congress leader alleged that restrictions on Electoral Registration Officers’ access to ECINet and the handling of electoral-roll matters in states including Goa and West Bengal raised questions about the statutory authority of EROs. The ECI, however, has maintained that field officers receive access based on their statutory powers and that upgrades to ECINet have already been made based on inputs from state Chief Electoral Officers.

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The dispute comes amid continuing political disagreement over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the functioning of the ECI. Opposition parties have raised concerns over voter-list revisions and have announced protests and other programmes seeking accountability. The ECI has defended its procedures and said decisions relating to the revision process were taken by the full commission, while differences during institutional deliberations are part of the decision-making process.

The commission’s September 26 decisions also included measures to assist voters who received notices over unmapped records or logical discrepancies during the ongoing revision. It directed Booth Level Officers to visit such voters’ homes, collect documents and upload them to ECINet for consideration by the ERO, with personal hearings required only in exceptional circumstances. The ECI also announced special help desks and camps for vulnerable groups, including people living in night shelters, workers, poor people and those without homes.

The ECI has also extended deadlines for filing claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra in connection with the revision process. The commission said the September 26 press note had the approval of the full Commission, while its review of ECINet is intended to assess compliance with the applicable electoral laws and rules. The latest exchange between the Congress and the poll panel adds to the broader debate over electoral-roll management, institutional procedures and the use of technology in election administration.

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