Stories
SC Judges Slam Mass Voter Deletions, Call Them 'Arbitrary' and 'Unconstitutional'
- •Supreme Court Judge Ujjal Bhuyan stated that disenfranchising millions of voters makes them "second-class citizens" and is "intrinsically arbitrary," violating universal adult suffrage and equality.
- •Justice Bhuyan emphasized that no process can justify mass exclusion from electoral rolls, calling it "a negation of the constitutional order" and striking "at the very heart of the Constitution."
- •His remarks follow the Supreme Court upholding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has led to the deletion of approximately 13.3 crore voters.
- •Former Supreme Court Justice Rohinton F. Nariman criticized the "astounding figure" of 90 lakh disenfranchised voters in West Bengal, calling the exclusions and appeal delays "completely illegal."
- •Justice Nariman also highlighted concerns about the Election Commission's autonomy and urged the Supreme Court to quickly decide on the validity of the CEC Act amidst reports of objections from two Election Commissioners.
Key Questions Answered
Supreme Court Judge Ujjal Bhuyan stated at NALSAR, Hyderabad, that any process disenfranchising millions by stripping them of voting rights without notice is intrinsically arbitrary and a negation of the constitutional order. He emphasized that the right to vote is intertwined with India's struggle against colonial rule and that Article 326 cannot be tinkered with by any authority or court.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India has led to the deletion of approximately 13.3 crore voters from the electoral rolls so far, according to reports.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton F. Nariman highlighted an astounding figure of 90 lakh disenfranchised voters in West Bengal and described the exclusion of voters and delayed appeals as completely illegal. He expressed concerns that the right to vote is at great peril and urged the Supreme Court to quickly decide on the validity of the CEC Act.
