Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal on Monday launched a strong attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) while addressing issues surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
During proceedings concerning the voter verification exercise, Sibal questioned the independence of the Election Commission, asking whether the constitutional body was effectively telling the Prime Minister, “Sir, we will do whatever you want.” The remark came amid concerns raised over alleged large-scale deletions from electoral rolls and the manner in which the revision process was conducted.
Sibal argued that the electoral revision exercise had become “polluted” due to procedural deficiencies and raised concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and voter inclusion. According to him, the integrity of the democratic process could be compromised if eligible voters were removed without adequate safeguards.
The comments formed part of broader arguments challenging aspects of the SIR process before the judiciary. Petitioners have expressed concerns that the exercise may affect electoral participation and disenfranchise legitimate voters.
The Election Commission has consistently maintained that electoral roll revisions are undertaken to ensure accuracy and eliminate duplication, ineligible entries, and other irregularities. Such exercises, the Commission argues, are essential to maintaining the credibility of elections.
The controversy highlights continuing debates over electoral governance, voter verification mechanisms, and the constitutional independence of institutions tasked with conducting free and fair elections. The matter is expected to remain significant as legal scrutiny of electoral processes continues.
The developments have once again brought attention to the balance between electoral integrity, administrative efficiency, and the protection of voting rights in India's democratic framework.