Allegations of mass voter deletion in Bengal ‘highly exaggerated’: EC tells SC

Election Commission

The Election Commission (EC) has informed the Supreme Court that claims of large-scale disenfranchisement of voters in West Bengal during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are "highly exaggerated" and driven by "vested political interests".

In a counter-affidavit filed in response to a PIL by MP Dola Sen challenging the legality of SIR orders dated June 24 and October 27, 2025, the Commission asserted that the revision exercise is constitutionally mandated and part of a regular, well-established process.

Debunking claims that the process aims to target a specific community, the poll body noted that minorities subject to same scrutiny as everyone else. "99 per cent of voters given forms, 70 per cent of forms received," the EC made the point in its petition.

The poll body said the revision of electoral rolls is essential in maintaining the purity and integrity of electoral rolls, a constitutional obligation recognized by the Supreme Court in TN Seshan, CEC vs Union of India (1995).

Referring to rapid urbanisation and high mobility of voters over the last two decades, the ECI said that additions and deletions on a large scale have become a “regular trend,” leading to risks of duplicate and inaccurate entries. These concerns, along with frequent complaints from political parties across the country, contributed to the decision to undertake a pan-India SIR.

Dola Sen's petition contends that the SIR orders are arbitrary, unconstitutional and will lead to invalid deletion of genuine voters. The ECI in its counter has denied all allegations and said the petition is “incorrect and denied in totality” except where expressly admitted.