TMC MP Mahua Moitra challenges Election Commission’s order on special voter roll revision, alleging it risks large-scale voter disenfranchisement
TMC MP Mahua Moitra (@AITCofficial via PTI Photo)
Kolkata: Krishnanagar Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's order for a special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters list in Bihar ahead of Assembly polls there. In her petition, she has sought an injunction on the EC's step in other states including Bengal which is going to the Assembly polls next year.
On Saturday night, Ms Moitra posted on X-handle, “Just filed writ petition in Supreme Court challenging @ECISVEEP notification to conduct SIR in Bihar & seeking a stay on conducting the same in other states including Bengal.” She also shared a synopsis online of her move.
It states, “The present Writ Petition has been filed in public interest under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking setting aside of Order dated 24.06.2025 issued by Election Commission of India (ECI) under which Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar is being conducted in violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, 325, 326 of the Constitution and provisions of Representation of People (RP) Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors (RER) Rules, 1960 which, if not set aside, can lead to large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters in the country thereby undermining democracy and free and fair elections in the country.”
The document added, “The petitioner is further seeking a direction from this Hon'ble Court to restrain Election Commission of India from issuing similar orders for Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Roll in other states of the country. It is submitted that it is for the very first time in the country that such an exercise is being conducted by ECI, where electors whose names are already there in electoral rolls and who have already voted multiple times in are being asked to prove their eligibility.”
It further pointed out, “The impugned SIR order requires the inclusion or retention of a voter's name in the electoral roll upon production of citizenship documents, including proof of citizenship of either or both the parents, failing which the voter is at risk of exclusion. This requirement is ultra vires Article 326 and introduces extraneous qualifications not contemplated by the Constitution or the RP Act 1950.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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