Bihar SIR of Electoral Rolls Called "Impractical and Filled with Irregularities" by Citizen's Panel

A citizen's panel in Bihar has criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls process, calling it "impractical and filled with irregularities." The panel, which held a public hearing in Patna, suggests stopping the process, citing concerns about the rights of citizens and the verification process. The panel highlights issues such as the short time frame for uploading documents, inadequate training of Booth Level Officers, and the use of fake signatures and bribery. The report also mentions inconvenience and harassment faced by citizens during the process.

A citizen's panel in Bihar has criticized the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls process, describing it as "impractical and filled with irregularities." The panel, which held a public hearing in Patna, has called for the immediate stoppage of the process, citing concerns about the rights of citizens and the verification process [1].

The panel's report highlighted several issues, including the short time frame for uploading documents, inadequate training of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and the use of fake signatures and bribery. It also mentioned the inconvenience and harassment faced by citizens during the process. The report stated that the SIR process could lead to the exclusion of lakhs of voters and distort the voter rolls ahead of the state assembly polls [2].

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has also raised concerns about the SIR, warning that it could exclude lakhs of voters and violate a Supreme Court ruling. ADR argues that the Election Commission's demand for fresh citizenship proof from existing voters is unconstitutional and could lead to arbitrary disenfranchisement [2].

The ongoing SIR process has led to disruptions in the Lok Sabha proceedings, with Opposition MPs protesting against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Despite the government's assurance to address all issues, the House was adjourned for the day on Friday, marking the fifth consecutive day of disruptions [3].

The SIR process has been criticized for its impracticality and the potential for large-scale disenfranchisement. The panel's report and ADR's warnings highlight the need for the Election Commission to address the concerns raised and ensure that the voter rolls are accurate and inclusive.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/elections/bihar-assembly/sir-of-electoral-rolls-is-impractical-and-filled-with-irregularities-suggest-citizens-panel-after-public-hearing-in-patna/article69859081.ece
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/bihar-sir-will-disenfranchise-lakhs-distort-voter-rolls-ahead-of-polls-adr-warns-supreme-court/articleshow/122925956.cms
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/the-whole-week-has-been-washed-out-says-pal-after-lok-sabha-session-was-adjourned-till-monday-monsoon-session-parliament/articleshow/122901869.cms