Exclusion errors: ECI must ensure genuine voters are not left out

Ever since it was set up, and without a definitive proof of citizenship issued under the Citizenship Act, the ECI has done a commendable job in preparing inclusive electoral rolls

With the Supreme Court terming its special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar as its “constitutional mandate”, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has indicated plans to carry out the exercise across the country. It is likely to wait until July 28, the next date of hearing on the sundry petitions filed against the exercise underway in Bihar, before pressing ahead. But questions over the ECI enlarging its sphere of responsibility, including deciding on such issues as citizenship, and stepping away from its earlier motto of “no voter is left behind” by shifting the onus of being