Latest news with #AbhishekManuSinghvi
News18
3 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Manner in which SIR being conducted in Bihar is not right: Abhishek Singhvi
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], August 9 (ANI): Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has raised questions over the manner in which the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is being conducted in poll-bound Bihar and said that instead of relying on documents with people, more documents are being parties have been insisting on a debate on the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, and both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have faced repeated adjournments on the issue. 'If I show my Aadhar card, and it turns out to be forged, and the same happened with my EPIC card, then they should delete it. However, this exercise is not individual; they claim they won't see the Aadhar card of any five crore people… How many people have the birth certificate of themselves and their parents? … SIR is not the issue, but the way they are conducting this exercise is not right…," Singhvi told reporters. The opposition INDIA bloc has been alleging that the revision process could lead to the deletion of a large number of voters. Earlier today, the Election Commission reiterated that it has not received a single claim or objection from any political party regarding the draft electoral rolls in Bihar.'So far, after over a week since the beginning of the Claims & Objections period, not even a single claim or objection has been submitted by any political party," the poll panel window to submit claims and objections to rectify any errors on draft electoral rolls opened on August the EC has received 7,252 claims and objections directly from the electors with respect to the draft roll till today, said the ECI in a daily bulletin on the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. Forms received from new electors on attaining 18 years of age or above are 43,000. As per the rules, the claims & objections are to be disposed of by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer/Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (ERO/AERO) after the expiry of 7 days. As per SIR orders, no name can be deleted from the draft list published on August 1, without passing a speaking order by the ERO/AERO after conducting an enquiry and after giving a fair and reasonable opportunity. (ANI)
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC reserves verdict on Telangana's domicile rule for med admissions
NEW DELHI: While the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the Telangana government's appeal challenging the high court striking down the state's controversial four-year domicile rule for admissions to medical and dental colleges under the state quota, the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the state made for interesting reading. The Telangana government had moved the top court challenging the state HC's order holding that the state's permanent residents cannot be denied benefits of admissions in the medical and dental colleges only on the ground that they lived outside the state for some time. Arguing before the bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, Singhvi, defending the rule of the state, argued that Telangana's domicile criteria were rooted in a government rule backed by a Presidential Order. 'Only the state has the authority to define the term permanent resident,' he said and urged that the HC order be set aside. 'Let's take a student born and raised in Telangana, but who moves away briefly for just Class 10 and 11, perhaps to Kota for coaching. What about them?' the CJI asked.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress conclave to discuss constitutional challenges
NEW DELHI: Congress will dwell on constitutional challenges and the way forward at a national conclave on Saturday. The event gains significance as it comes amid the party's refrain that the Constitution is under attack from BJP. The AICC department of law, human rights and RTI chairman Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Friday said the full-day legal conclave was being organised under the overarching theme: "Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways." The conclave will be addressed by, among others, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi . Besides, party general secretaries K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and Mukul Wasnik; treasurer Ajay Maken; chief ministers of Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh; former CMs and other senior Congress netas will be among the 41 distinguished speakers. The conclave will also be addressed by former judges, legal academics and human rights activists. The event was taking place at a "pivotal moment in our Republic's journey - a time that calls for renewed commitment to the foundational values of our democracy", Singhvi said. "As custodians of the Constitution of India, we are presented with an opportunity to come together - as legal professionals, public thinkers and citizens - to reaffirm our collective faith in the constitutional order, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen the integrity of our institutions," he said.
NDTV
28-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar Voter List Revision Issue In Supreme Court Today: 10 Points
New Delhi: The controversial Special Intensive Revision or SIR of voter lists in Bihar ahead of the assembly election has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the matter would be heard by a two-judge bench today. Here are the top 10 points from this big story: The petitioners have argued that the SIR exercise would lead to large-scale disenfranchisement of voters. Various opposition parties in Bihar have claimed the disenfranchisement will benefit the BJP as the state machinery will target people opposed to the ruling alliance. The Election Commission, which is conducting the exercise, has argued that it is doing its constitutional duty by weeding the voters' list of people who are dead, migrated of registered multiple times. The Commission has also assured that no name will be deleted from the list without a due process and there will be month after the publication of the draft list on August 1 to hear objections and make changes. The petitioners have alleged that much of the disenfranchisement is happening due to lack of proper documents. The Supreme Court had asked the poll body to consider three documents for SIR -- Aadhaar, Electoral Photo Identity Card, and ration card. The court has pointed out that they are foundational records to obtain any of the 11 documents, including residence and caste certificates, listed by the Election Commission for voter verification. The Election Commission has argued that Aadhaar, Electoral Photo Identity Card, and ration card could easily be faked. At a joint press conference with leaders of CPI(ML) Liberation, RJD and CPM, Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the exercise has become a "citizenship test" and questioned its legality. "This is not a matter of political obstinacy. It is not a matter of institutional arrogance. Please reconsider it," he said. The Election Commission said on Sunday that 22 lakh voters in Bihar have died, 36 lakh people have either permanently shifted or not found, and seven lakh were found to have enrolled at multiple places.
New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
INDIA bloc urges ECI to halt Bihar voter revision, alleges flawed data and exclusion risk
NEW DELHI: With over 65 lakh voters at risk of exclusion after the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the INDIA bloc on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) immediately halt the process, citing concerns over data integrity and procedural opacity. At a joint press conference in Patna, leaders from Congress, RJD, CPI(ML), and CPI(M) launched a strong attack on the poll body, accusing it of conducting the revision exercise based on 'opacity' and termed it 'institutional arrogance'. They also disputed the ECI's claim that lists of deceased and relocated voters had been shared with political parties. In a joint statement, the opposition bloc said, 'Our apprehension is turning out to be true. We had warned that this drive would ultimately lead to the exclusion of nearly two crore people. The EC is basing voter deletions on flawed form-based data. The scrutiny is not over; more exclusions are likely in the coming month. We will go to the people on this issue. Even NDA allies are seeing their voters affected.' Speaking at the press meet Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged that the exercise lacks transparency and precision. 'The entire exercise reeks of institutional arrogance. There are too many inconsistencies and no clarity. This is not a correction exercise; this is exclusion in the name of verification,' he said.
