‘Voters List Belongs to the People’: United Civil Groups Condemn ‘Unconstitutional’ SIR in Karnataka
Bengaluru: A coalition of progressive organisations, civil society groups, and secular political parties on Sunday came together to vehemently condemn the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, denouncing it as unconstitutional and exclusionary. Addressing a joint press conference, representatives decried the process, warning that it threatens to unjustly disenfranchise large sections of citizens and demanded authorities uphold a transparent and inclusive voter list.
“The voters list belongs to the people, not to any political party. We have united today to protect our rights against this arbitrary move,” the group stated. They strongly appealed to the Election Commission of India, the State Election Commission, and the Karnataka government to ensure no eligible voter is wrongfully left out.
“ಮತದಾರರ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಜನತೆಯ ಆಸ್ತಿ”: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನಾಗರಿಕ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳಿಂದ ‘ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ವಿರುದ್ಧ’ ಮತಪಟ್ಟಿ ಪರಿಷ್ಕರಣೆಗೆ ತೀವ್ರ ಖಂಡನೆ; ಹೋರಾಟದ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞೆ
Condemnation Over Exclusion and Illegality
Speakers at the press conference sharply criticized the SIR, arguing it has no legal or constitutional basis. They condemned the process for exceeding routine revision and instead attempting a complete and suspect reworking of the voter list.
Advocate Vinay Srinivasa of the My Vote My Right platform said, “SIR is an arbitrary and unconstitutional process. There is no provision for such an exercise in the law, yet it is being implemented in a way that risks people being unfairly stripped of their voting rights.”
He pointed to a new enumeration form, condemning the fact that failure to submit it could lead to summary removal from the voter list. Citing examples from other states, he said, “In West Bengal, even people with valid documents were placed under ‘logical discrepancy’ lists for minor errors. This shows how deeply flawed and prone to abuse this system is.”
The coalition condemned similar processes in other states, which they noted have led to the systematic removal of lakhs of voters. They warned that in a politically sensitive state like Karnataka, even a small percentage change represents a dangerous manipulation that could significantly alter electoral outcomes.
Condemnation of Impact on Marginalised Communities
Leaders expressed outrage that the process disproportionately targets and penalizes women, migrants, Dalits, tribals, and minorities, many of whom may lack access to required documents.
Saathi Sundareah of the Communist Party of India condemned the process, saying, “Across the country, we are seeing justifiable protests against SIR because it deliberately risks excluding vulnerable sections. It is an attack on women, Dalits, and migrant workers, who are being unfairly targeted for removal from the voter list.”
She also condemned the broader political context, stating, “When inequality is rising and people are migrating for survival, such processes cruelly make it harder for them to exercise their basic democratic rights.”
Farmer leader HR Basavarajappa questioned the requirement for old documents, condemning it as a deliberate barrier. “Every citizen above 18 has the right to vote. Why are original inhabitants being forced to produce documents they may not have? This is a clear and shameful attempt to exclude them,” he said. He added that farmers’ groups would take the issue to rural areas to ensure awareness and participation.
Demands for Transparency and Due Process
The coalition placed a series of demands before the Election Commission to rectify what they called a flawed process. These include public display and verification of draft voter lists in gram sabhas and ward meetings, mandatory consideration of Aadhaar cards, and a minimum six-month window for submitting documents and appeals.
They also insisted that discrepancies between the voter list and the adult population must not exceed one percent, condemning any attempt to manipulate this margin.
Tara Rao of Eddelu Karnataka called for collective action, condemning the potential for authoritarian overreach. “It is imperative for all stakeholders, including the government and election authorities, to come together and ensure that elections truly reflect the will of the people. Otherwise, we risk an egregious situation where governments choose their voters,” she said.
The group also urged the Karnataka government to set up voter assistance centres, simplify the issuance of certificates and train booth-level officers to reach every household.
Reiterating their stand, the coalition said it would continue its campaign to condemn and reverse the process until their demands are addressed. They announced plans to form voter rights protection committees and a monitoring mechanism to oversee the process, while seeking support from the public and the media to safeguard democratic rights against what they termed an authoritarian overreach.
