New Delhi: More concerns have come up over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, particularly about the possibility of a large number of names figuring in the draft electoral rolls but missing in the final one, leaving a very short redressal window for the affected people, just ahead of the state election.
Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, who has so far backed EC's prerogative to hold suan intensive revision, termed the EC decisions as 'not well founded' and expressed concerns over the possibility of things turning 'chaotic' just ahead of the assembly polls.
"The process which the EC is now suggesting, as per the advertisements issued by the Bihar CEO and EC's clarificatory statements, appears that the draft electoral roll published on August 1 may include the names of all electors, some on the basis of the enumeration form alone with documents following later. This is certainly not a well-founded move," Rawat told ET.
"This means that the final electoral roll in September could have considerable deletion of names in case required documents don't come later. If so, the aggrieved elector would hardly have enough time for his appeal. This could prove chaotic given that the assembly election must be conducted before November end," he added.
The issue has many former CECs and Election Commissioners concerned.
"This practically means that several names in the draft electoral rolls may face the axe later. Given that in the EC's experience most people are quite assured after their names emerge in draft rolls, this will be nearly completely illegal, dangerous and can throw the whole electoral roll and election into disarray," another former CEC told ET.
Still others pointed out that the presumption that names can be deleted quickly just ahead of the polls also doesn't pass legal muster as it could deny voting rights to many without allowing adequate time for appeal/evidence.
"The process for deletion and appeal is complex and involves multiple steps from issuing a show cause notice to such an elector, allowing him more than enough opportunity to contest it. This itself is known to take nearly six months in several cases. After that also, the elector has the right to go to appeal, a process known to easily take 4-6 months. So, anyone whose name is deleted and wants to contest it would not be able to do so in the October-November Bihar election. Several people work in other states and may not even get the EC notice. That is certainly not only undesirable but also against the spirit of EC's enrolment approach," the ex CEC added.
Many agree that the EC's intention to purify electoral rolls is most welcome but an intensive revision requires longer gap with polls.
After all, the last intensive revision in Bihar, which the EC has now cited, was conducted in 2003 when the election was to be held only two years later (in 2005). That allowed considerable window to electors to produce documents or proofs required.
"Nearly 2.3 cr voters, who were not on the 2003 rolls, are required to produce documents and that too at such a tight deadline and in a state known to have very high migrant population. This is not the duty of the citizen and stated so in many court observations and orders," the ex-CEC added.
Former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, who has so far backed EC's prerogative to hold suan intensive revision, termed the EC decisions as 'not well founded' and expressed concerns over the possibility of things turning 'chaotic' just ahead of the assembly polls.
"The process which the EC is now suggesting, as per the advertisements issued by the Bihar CEO and EC's clarificatory statements, appears that the draft electoral roll published on August 1 may include the names of all electors, some on the basis of the enumeration form alone with documents following later. This is certainly not a well-founded move," Rawat told ET.
"This means that the final electoral roll in September could have considerable deletion of names in case required documents don't come later. If so, the aggrieved elector would hardly have enough time for his appeal. This could prove chaotic given that the assembly election must be conducted before November end," he added.
The issue has many former CECs and Election Commissioners concerned.
"This practically means that several names in the draft electoral rolls may face the axe later. Given that in the EC's experience most people are quite assured after their names emerge in draft rolls, this will be nearly completely illegal, dangerous and can throw the whole electoral roll and election into disarray," another former CEC told ET.
Still others pointed out that the presumption that names can be deleted quickly just ahead of the polls also doesn't pass legal muster as it could deny voting rights to many without allowing adequate time for appeal/evidence.
"The process for deletion and appeal is complex and involves multiple steps from issuing a show cause notice to such an elector, allowing him more than enough opportunity to contest it. This itself is known to take nearly six months in several cases. After that also, the elector has the right to go to appeal, a process known to easily take 4-6 months. So, anyone whose name is deleted and wants to contest it would not be able to do so in the October-November Bihar election. Several people work in other states and may not even get the EC notice. That is certainly not only undesirable but also against the spirit of EC's enrolment approach," the ex CEC added.
Many agree that the EC's intention to purify electoral rolls is most welcome but an intensive revision requires longer gap with polls.
After all, the last intensive revision in Bihar, which the EC has now cited, was conducted in 2003 when the election was to be held only two years later (in 2005). That allowed considerable window to electors to produce documents or proofs required.
"Nearly 2.3 cr voters, who were not on the 2003 rolls, are required to produce documents and that too at such a tight deadline and in a state known to have very high migrant population. This is not the duty of the citizen and stated so in many court observations and orders," the ex-CEC added.
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