New Delhi, July 17: The Supreme Court addressed the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy during a hearing on Friday, reiterating that determining citizenship is not a constitutional right of the Election Commission. The Commission’s authority is limited to controlling and supervising the electoral rolls, leaving no ambiguity in the legal framework.
The Supreme Court stated that if a tribunal decides to exclude an individual’s name from the SIR list, the Election Commission must refer the citizenship determination case to the relevant ministry. The Court clarified that the absence of a name from the electoral rolls does not automatically nullify an individual’s citizenship.
This statement was made during the hearing of a public interest petition seeking constituency-wise information related to the West Bengal SIR. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the petition, with the next hearing scheduled for August 25.
Previously, several petitions concerning the SIR in West Bengal have been filed. Some have been resolved, while others are still pending. Supporters of the ruling party argue that the SIR is in the public’s interest, whereas the opposition accuses the BJP government of using the SIR as a means to seize power.
It is noteworthy that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a special initiative by the Election Commission aimed at updating, purifying, and ensuring the accuracy of the electoral rolls. The objective is to include only eligible Indian citizens in the voter list while removing names of deceased, relocated, or ineligible individuals.
Typically, the Election Commission conducts a brief revision of the electoral rolls annually. However, when a comprehensive and thorough examination of the voter list is deemed necessary in a state or region, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is initiated. This process may involve door-to-door verification, document checks, and a detailed assessment of voter eligibility.
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