UPSC-Relevant News Items

1. Potential Mass Exclusion of Over 6 Crore Voters Highlighted in Draft Electoral Roll Revision (SIR Phase II)

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Summary:

• • The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Phase II is an ECI drive designed to clean and update electoral rolls via intensive verification. SIR utilizes Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for door-to-door verification to remove duplicates, deceased voters, and shifted entries. The current draft rolls indicate a massive provisional exclusion of 6.28 crore names across eight states, potentially leading to 10 crore deletions nationwide. Uttar Pradesh shows the highest provisional exclusion (2.93 crore). Concerns are raised over the potential disenfranchisement of 5.25 crore "unmapped" voters facing deletion due to lack of necessary proof. Critics warn that the exclusion process (which requires specific legal notices/Form 7) may be bypassed during such mass drives, risking arbitrary disenfranchisement, especially for the "unmapped" group. Furthermore, critics highlight that mass deletions often violate the principles of natural justice and electoral rules (Sec 21 RoPA, 1950), which mandate individual service of notice (Form 7) and an opportunity for the voter to be heard before removal.

Additional Facts:

• • Form 7 is the official application/notice for the objection to the inclusion or for the deletion of a name in the electoral roll, as per ECI rules.

Linkage with UPSC course:

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