ECI’s Bihar Roll Purification Drive

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, leading to legal and public scrutiny over its objectives, execution, and potential implications for voter disenfranchisement.

Institutional Credibility vs Public Distrust

• Historic Legacy of Competence: The ECI has consistently demonstrated administrative excellence—from preparing the first electoral rolls post-independence to managing nationwide elections involving over 8 crore electors and 18 lakh officials.
• Erosion of Public Confidence: Despite its institutional repute, the recent SIR has provoked skepticism from civil society and political stakeholders who allege that the exercise may lead to mass disenfranchisement.
• Perceived Judicial Overreach: Judicial inquiries, arising from apprehensions about the process, have added to the pressure, compelling the ECI to justify its operational intent and procedural fairness before the higher judiciary.

Operational Adjustments and Ambiguities

• Relaxation of Documentation Norms: The ECI permitted the use of 2003 electoral roll entries of parents as a basis for eligibility and allowed enumeration forms without prescribed documents, reflecting an attempt to simplify compliance.
• Inconsistency in Verification Protocols: The role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) remains unclear, particularly regarding their authority to “recommend” inclusion without proper documentary evidence.
• Potential Redundancy of Citizenship Proof: Suggestions to consider Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration cards shift the focus from citizenship verification to identity confirmation, thereby diluting the intended legal rigor of the SIR.

Philosophical, Legal, and Governance Dilemmas

• Unresolved Question of Authority: The ECI, though robust in electoral management, is not legally designated under the Citizenship Act to determine citizenship status, raising fundamental questions of jurisdiction.
• Measurement of Success Remains Subjective: It is uncertain whether success will be assessed by the volume of submitted forms, exclusion of ineligible voters, or public trust restored, leaving the institutional goal ambiguous.
• Democratic Ethos at Stake: The foundational principle of universal adult franchise demands utmost caution; any process leading to arbitrary exclusion without due legal process may undermine constitutional democracy.

Practice Question:

The Election Commission of India is admired for its electoral management but not empowered for citizenship determination. In light of the recent electoral roll revision in Bihar, critically analyse the constitutional and legal limits of ECI’s mandate and the implications for democratic governance.    (250 words)