Special Intensive Revision: The debate around Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has become one of the most pressing issues ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien has raised serious concerns about the methodology, fairness, and human cost of the exercise. While no one disputes the importance of clean electoral rolls, the controversy lies in how the process is being implemented, its impact on ordinary citizens, and the lack of transparency in the use of technology such as AI apps for voter verification.
Background on SIR
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and verify electoral rolls. It is meant to ensure that only eligible citizens are included and duplicate or fraudulent entries are removed.
- The ECI provides official guidelines on electoral roll management: Election Commission of India – Electoral Rolls
- Citizens can check their voter details and status here: National Voters’ Service Portal
O’Brien’s critique is not of the concept itself but of the haphazard implementation. He argues that the same rolls were used in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, so questioning their validity now raises doubts about consistency and fairness.
Special Intensive Revision: Human Cost of Implementation
One of the strongest points raised is the human toll of the SIR process:
- Farmers forced to stand in long queues during the Rabi season, losing valuable agricultural time.
- Daily wage workers losing income while running from office to office to authenticate documents.
- Block Level Officers (BLOs) facing immense psychological and physical pressure, with reports of suicides linked to the stress of the exercise.
This highlights the social and economic disruption caused by bureaucratic processes when not carefully planned.
For reference on BLO responsibilities: ECI – Handbook for BLOs
Border Security and Political Context
O’Brien also questioned why SIR is being conducted in Bengal, Assam, and Kerala but not in other border states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. He emphasized that border protection is the responsibility of central forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Government links for context:
This raises the issue of whether the SIR is being selectively applied, potentially targeting Bengali-speaking citizens under suspicion of being “infiltrators.”
Technology Concerns
Another major concern is the use of an AI app to identify duplicate voters. O’Brien pointed out that there is no clarity on who developed the app, what data it uses, or whether tenders were issued transparently.
This lack of transparency in deploying technology for democratic processes is alarming. Citizens deserve to know how their data is being processed and safeguarded.
For official IT governance: National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Constitutional and Democratic Implications
The Election Commission is a constitutional body expected to function impartially. If electoral rolls are suddenly deemed defective, it raises questions about the legitimacy of past elections. O’Brien even asked whether the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 should be dissolved if the rolls were compromised.
Relevant constitutional reference: Constitution of India – Election Commission (Article 324)
Conclusion
The debate over SIR is not about rejecting electoral reforms but about ensuring they are fair, transparent, and humane. The human cost, the selective application, and the opaque use of technology all demand scrutiny. Clean electoral rolls are essential, but democracy must not come at the expense of citizens’ dignity and livelihood.
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