Latest news with #RPAct1950
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
ADR moves Supreme Court against ECI's voter list revision in Bihar
New Delhi: In a development that could significantly impact the upcoming high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Saturday challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the poll-bound state. The petition alleges that the ECI's move is arbitrary and could potentially disenfranchise millions of voters. ADR, a non-partisan electoral watchdog, has urged the apex court to intervene, arguing that such an extensive revision exercise so close to the polls undermines the integrity of the democratic process. The organisation has sought the court's direction to halt the ongoing revision process until a thorough and fair verification mechanism is ensured. The controversy stems from the ECI's June 24 directive announcing the SIR exercise in Bihar. The revision, which includes the verification of existing voter data and new registrations, is being carried out just months before the state is scheduled to go to polls. This has raised concerns among several political parties, especially those in the Opposition. Hours after the poll-panel gave its direction on June 24, the Opposition including Lalu Yadav's RJD, Congress, AIMIM, CPI, CPM and other political parties opposed this move and attacked the poll body for acting on the directions of the ruling BJP. Earlier, this week, nearly a dozen political parties of INDIA bloc leaders went to meet the poll panel officials including the Chief Election Commissioner to raise their objections against the SIR, although, the poll-panel through its Press statements has defended the move. 'Commission stated that SIR is being conducted in accordance with provisions of Article 326, RP Act 1950 and instructions issued on June 2024, 2025. Party representatives raised concerns related to SIR. Each concern which was raised by any member of the political party was fully addressed by Commission', the poll panel said on X after their meeting with INDIA bloc leaders earlier this week. Similarly, the Congress' senior leader Pawan Khera while addressing a Press conference this week did not rule out the option of approaching the judiciary against the poll panel's directive. With the filing of this petition by ADR, it seems that the issue is likely to intensify in the coming days.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
ECI discusses issues related to Special Intensive Revision in Bihar with 11 political parties
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday met with representatives from various political parties to discuss concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The SIR aims to verify the eligibility of voters and ensure accurate electoral rolls ahead of the assembly elections expected to be held later this year. Representatives of 11 political parties met with the Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with other Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu Vivek Joshi at Nirvachan Sadan. 'Representatives of various political parties(PPs) met Election Commission comprising CEC Sh Gyanesh Kumar along with ECs Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi at ECI, New Delhi, today to discuss the issues related to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar,' the Commission posted on X. The Election Commission is currently conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, ahead of the Assembly elections which are expected to held later this year. The opposition parties has raised alarm over the exercise, claiming that it will be used to disenfranchise voters. The ECI stated that the SIR is being conducted in accordance with Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act 1950, to identify ineligible voters and ensure no eligible voter is left out. 'Commission stated that SIR is being conducted in accordance with provisions of Article 326, RP Act 1950 & instructions issued on 24.06.2025 Party representatives raised concerns related to SIR. Each concern which was raised by any member of PP was fully addressed by Commission,' the post added. Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), expressed concerns that the SIR might be used to disenfranchise voters, particularly the poor and marginalized. According to the EC, certain members had a prior appointment with the poll panel and some had come unannounced, however the Commission allowed two representatives from every party for a meeting. 'Some of the participants were given an appointment and others were allowed to join in without any prior appointment as Commission decided to meet two representatives from every party so as to listen to all views,' read the ECI's post. The ECI assured that the SIR would be conducted transparently and fairly, with measures in place to assist vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the economically vulnerable. A group of 18 leaders from 11 political parties met with the Election Commissioners regarding the upcoming Bihar elections. The exercise has faced heavy criticism from the opposition. The SIR involves house-to-house verification, online submission of forms, and assistance from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and volunteers Earlier today, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed the SIR exercise is being used to help the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) win the upcoming Bihar polls by denying poor people their right to vote. The RJD leader also claimed that the Narendra Modi-led Centre will impose President's rule in the state to consolidate power. 'Two days after the (SIR) notification itself, we have asked the Election Commission that our mahagathbandan, the alliance, wants to meet with you, a delegation wants to meet with you. The RJD leader also claimed that voting rights being allegedly taken away is just the first step, with the BJP coming for people's pensions and rations later on. 'It looks like the Election Commission has become Modi's, BJP's Commission, and BJP, Nitish Kumar is silent on this. They are losing the elections by votes so EC is helping them from the back. When they lose, first they cut votes of poor, then pension, after that ration. Modi ji will eat all that up. Voting is a right in a Constitutional democracy, and that too you are taking that way,' he added. The Bihar assembly elections are scheduled to take place at the end of this year, with the SIR exercise notified on June 24. (ANI)
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
ECI begins 2-day capacity building programme for 379 field functionaries
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The 13th batch of training for Booth Level Officers (BLO) Supervisors began at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management(IIIDEM), New Delhi on Monday. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Gyanesh Kumar, inaugurated the programme by addressing the 379 participants (111 from Uttar Pradesh, 128 from Madhya Pradesh, 67 from Nagaland,66 from Meghalaya, and seven from Chandigarh), said an official release issued by the Election Commission of India. Over 5,000 BLO/BLO Supervisors have been trained in the last three months by ECI in New Delhi. In his inaugural address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that these training programmes are essential to ensure that the preparation of electoral rolls and elections are conducted strictly in accordance with the Representation of People Act 1950, 1951, Registration of Electors Rules 1960, Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and the instructions issued by the ECI from time to time. He added that there can be nothing more transparent than the law in any democracy, and the elections in India are held as per law. CEC also underlined that the participants, through the training, will familiarise themselves with the provisions of the first and second appeals against the final electoral rolls as published with the DM/District Collector/Executive Magistrate under section 24(a) of the RP Act 1950 and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State/UT under section 24(b) respectively. He also encouraged the BLOs and BLO Supervisors to make the electors aware of these provisions during their field-level verification. It may be recalled that no appeals were filed from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh after the completion of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise as of 6th-10th January 2025, the statement added. The training is designed to enhance participants' practical understanding, especially in the areas of voter registration, Form handling, and field-level implementation of electoral procedures. Participants will also receive practical training on the IT tools. The officials will also be provided with technical demonstrations and training on EVMs and VVPATs, including mock polls. (ANI)
