Hundreds of Indian Civil Society Leaders Accuse

In a joint appeal released Sunday, the coalition demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be immediately halted until the Supreme Court of India reviews its constitutional validity.

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The statement warns that the current voter verification process has allegedly resulted in the removal or denial of voting rights for millions of legitimate citizens, raising fears about the integrity of upcoming elections in several Indian states.

According to the signatories, the electoral roll revision conducted in 10 states and 3 Union Territories has reportedly excluded nearlysix crore (60 million) voters.

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Activists claim that the removals have disproportionately affected marginalized communities, including minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, migrant workers, and economically vulnerable citizens.

Among those endorsing the statement are former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy, actor and public commentator Prakash Raj, Gandhian leader Tushar Gandhi, political analyst Parakala Prabhakar, and election reform advocate Yogendra Yadav.

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The statement further alleges that several prominent individuals—including Nobel Prize–winning economist Amartya Sen and Indian international cricketer Mohammed Shami—were reportedly issued notices or faced voter verification challenges during the exercise.

The civil society coalition argues that the SIR process lacks transparency and has been implemented without adequate safeguards, creating widespread distrust among citizens.

The activists said that removing voters without clear procedures or due process violates the principle of universal adult franchise, which is one of the foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution.

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The statement outlines several demands aimed at restoring public confidence in the electoral system:

• Immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision exercise
• Judicial review by the Supreme Court regarding its constitutional validity
• Restoration of legitimate voters removed from electoral rolls
• Transparent and independently audited verification procedure

The activists also called for stronger parliamentary oversight to ensure the independence and credibility of the Election Commission.

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Civil society leaders warned that if the voter roll controversy is not addressed, it could cast a shadow over elections in key states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.

India, the world’s largest democracy, regularly witnesses intense public debate over electoral reforms and institutional accountability. Critics argue that maintaining trust in election management bodies is essential for preserving democratic legitimacy.

The Election Commission has historically defended voter roll revisions as necessary to remove duplicate or ineligible entries and ensure accurate electoral lists.

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However, with mounting criticism from civil society groups and ongoing legal scrutiny, the issue is expected to remain a major political and constitutional debate in the months ahead.

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