Electoral Roll Entry Is Conditional Right, EC Says

Why in the News ?

The Election Commission of India informed the Supreme Court of India that inclusion in electoral rolls is a “qualified right”, requiring voters to continuously fulfil constitutional eligibility conditions, amid challenges to Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Election Commission’s Stand on Electoral Eligibility:

• The EC argued that Article 326 of the Constitution mandates continuous fulfilment of voter eligibility conditions.
• These essential conditions include Indian citizenship, attainment of 18 years of age, and absence of legal disqualification.
• Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the EC, stated that once eligibility is lost, the right to remain on electoral rolls cannot be claimed.
• The EC clarified that registration as a voter is not a permanent entitlement, but dependent on sustained compliance with constitutional criteria.
• The submission was made during hearings on petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted in Bihar.

Defence of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Exercise

• The EC described the SIR as a verification exercise, not a process to determine or cancel citizenship status.
• Senior advocate Dama Seshadhiri Naidu distinguished between verifying citizenship credentials and legally determining citizenship.
• He compared SIR to professional verification processes, such as qualification checks before enrolment in Bar associations.
• The EC asserted that no complaints of procedural lapses were reported during the Bihar SIR.
• Highlighting its collateral benefits, the EC claimed that door-to-door surveys during SIR led to higher voter turnout in 2025, removal of duplicate entries, and deletion of names of deceased voters, thereby improving electoral integrity.