Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 9: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday claimed that the Election Commission (EC) legally has no authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and urged that it be stopped. He said many opposition leaders and citizens are now questioning the poll body’s neutrality.

Speaking during a discussion on Election Reforms in the Lok Sabha, Tewari suggested amending the 2023 law on the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. He proposed adding the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Chief Justice of India to the panel, stating that such a move would help remove doubts over the EC’s impartiality.

Tewari said, “BR Ambedkar ensured that the EC would be a permanent body expected to act as a neutral umpire. Regretfully, many feel the need to question its neutrality today.” He added that Article 327 empowers Parliament to make laws regarding voter lists and delimitation, but the ongoing SIR in multiple states exceeds the EC’s legal authority.

“There is no constitutional or legal provision for SIR nationwide. It can only be conducted in constituencies where problems in electoral rolls are recorded in writing and made public,” he said. Tewari criticized the EC for conducting SIR in entire states like Bihar and Kerala without documenting reasons in writing.

He also highlighted India’s democratic evolution, noting that the biggest electoral reform was former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s move in 1988-89 to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18.