The BRICS TimesCongress leader Singhvi questions transparency in voter list revision, says Aadhaar was ignored despite Supreme Court rulings
Congress senior leader and Chairman of the Law, Human Rights, and RTI Department, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has raised serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and its lack of proactive action.
Singhvi stated, “The Election Commission is a constitutional body, so why does it wait for a court order before acting? In Bihar’s SIR matter, it should have taken action on its own. Why did the Commission remain silent until the courts directed them?” He criticized the institution for failing to act independently in such a critical matter.
Public Not Taken Into Confidence on SIR
According to Singhvi, the Commission did not take the public into confidence from the very beginning of the SIR process. He pointed out that earlier revisions were announced a year before Lok Sabha elections and two years before Assembly elections. However, this time, the process was suddenly launched at the end of June without prior notice.
He added that when questions were raised regarding this sudden action, the Commission failed to provide any answers. Singhvi also highlighted that in Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh, similar SIR processes were suspended earlier, but no explanation was offered for why Bihar’s revision was carried out now without transparency.
Questions Over Aadhaar Exclusion
Singhvi further alleged that the Election Commission issued detailed guidelines on when and how the SIR process in Bihar would take place, as well as which documents were required. However, Aadhaar was deliberately excluded from the list of valid documents.
He stated, “When 65 lakh voter names were deleted from the list, the Commission gave no explanation. Despite multiple Supreme Court rulings, officials refused to accept Aadhaar as valid proof. Strangely, those officers who did accept Aadhaar were served with show-cause notices. If Aadhaar is valid for ration, pension, and taxes, then why is it being denied for the voter list?”
Singhvi emphasized that this lack of clarity and disregard for court orders exposes a serious issue of transparency and accountability within the Commission.
Akshay Didwaniya
