Direct ECI to conduct SIR, not SR in Assam: Petitioner to SC

Guwahati: A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the ECI’s decision to conduct a Special Revision of electoral rolls in Assam, instead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) done in Bihar and other 12 states and union territories.

The petitioner Mrinal Kumar Choudhury, who is a former president of Gauhati High Court Bar Association, said the petition relies upon a 1998 “report on illegal immigration in Assam” by the former governor SK Sinha. The report states that there were 40-50 lakh illegal immigrants in Assam as of 1997, who came from neighbouring countries.




The petitioner urged SC to direct ECI to conduct SIR in Assam on the same parameters as was done in Bihar.

The petition states that ECI, in a most arbitrary and discriminatory manner, directed that the electoral roll of Assam will be revised only by the way of Special Revision and not by SIR, even though there is no difference between the ground realities in Assam and the twelve other states where SIR is being conducted.

The concern raised in the writ petition is that there are lakhs of illegal immigrants in Assam whose names have been incorporated in the electoral roll. It says, unless SIR is conducted, these persons will get the right to vote in the upcoming assembly elections, which will have a cascading effect on the socio-political scenario and result in demographic imbalance.

The petition adds that in case of Special Revision in Assam, the electors are not required to submit any document in proof of their citizenship, age or residences. However, in case of SIR, the electors are required to submit documents to support their claim for inclusion in the electoral roll.

It is alleged in the petition that the decision to conduct only Special Revision in the state is contrary to the earlier decision of the ECI contained in the order relating to Bihar SIR issued on June 24 and in the affidavit filed on July 21 before the Supreme Court in the case of “Association for Democratic Reforms Vs ECI”, wherein it has been stated on oath that SIR will be conducted pan-India.

The petitioner urged SC to quash the ECI order issued on Nov 17, directing Special Revision of electoral roll, instead of SIR, in Assam. It is also prayed before the court to direct ECI to conduct SIR in the state on the same parameters as was done in Bihar.

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