Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Rohinton Fali Nariman have expressed concerns over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, stating that it violates Article 326 and Article 14 of the Constitution.
Amid growing concerns that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls could potentially deny genuine electors their right to vote, Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Sunday expressed his disapproval of any process that leads to the disenfranchisement of Indian citizens. He spoke at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad, stating that unless a voter has died, no one else's name can be deleted from the electoral roll 'without notice and hearing'. He further added that any process that leads to wholesale disenfranchisement of Indian citizens violates Article 326 and Article 14 of the Constitution.
Former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Fali Nariman also expressed concerns about 13.8 crore voters having been removed from the electoral rolls of 31 states and Union Territories. He pointed out that out of those excluded, 22.2 lakh persons had appealed to be added back to the electoral rolls, with 1 lakh voter appeals being decided in favour of the voters, highlighting the illegality of the process.
Justice Bhuyan emphasized that no authority can violate these provisions and reiterated that 'no one is above the Constitution'. He further stated that the right to vote is intertwined with India’s long years of struggle against foreign rule, and it is a manifestation of our freedom achieved after so much of struggle and sacrifice.
Nariman also referred to an investigation by The Indian Express that revealed Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions by the poll panel related to the special intensive revision.
Rohinton Fali Nariman also expressed concern about the appointment of election commissioners, stating that leaving it in the hands of the government is a 'red flag'. He pointed out that out of those excluded from the electoral rolls, 22.2 lakh persons had appealed to be added back.
Source:
Scroll.in
