Certain groups, including Muslims, women, transgender persons, and sex workers, appear to be disproportionately affected, according to an event organised by the rights group
NEW DELHI — The Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has expressed serious concerns over the erosion of voting rights and citizenship of lakhs of people in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal.
At a public discussion on “Vanishing Voter Rights and Vulnerable Citizenship: Effects of SIR in West Bengal (Especially in Malda and Murshidabad)” in the national capital on Monday, the APCR focussed on the testimonies of affected individuals and families from Malda and Murshidabad in the state, along with accounts from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) whose own names had been removed from voter lists. The testimonies reflected a pattern of confusion and distress, with people reporting missing names despite having valid documents, repeated demands for re-verification even after approval, and a lack of clarity in the process. In several cases, entire families remained on the rolls while a single individual’s name was deleted without explanation.
The conference brought together senior advocates, academics, political leaders, and grassroots voices to closely examine the impact of the SIR process on voter inclusion and citizenship security in parts of West Bengal.
Among the speakers were Prashant Bhushan, Prof Ajit Jha and Nadeem Khan, as well as voices from West Bengal, including Mausam Noor, Md Mohbul Hoque, and Sabir Ahamed. Banojyotsna Lahiri moderated the discussion.
Social activist Mohbul Hoque from Malda described the situation on the ground as deeply alarming. He pointed out severe time constraints, procedural inconsistencies, and cases where deletions occurred despite full documentation. He also highlighted the distress among BLOs, noting instances where the pressure of implementation had led to extreme consequences, including reports of suicides.
Presenting a data-driven analysis, Sabir Ahamed said certain groups appeared to be disproportionately affected, including Muslims, women, transgender persons, sex workers, and even smaller communities such as Chinese-origin residents. He noted that Muslim men, in particular, seemed to face a higher rate of exclusion.
Nadeem Khan, National Secretary of APCR, raised concerns over what he described as a lack of institutional responsiveness. He questioned why those who had come forward with grievances were not being heard, adding that in some cases, individuals protesting the deletion of their names had faced punitive action. He also cited instances where entire polling stations were impacted, with hundreds of names sent for adjudication but none approved, raising serious questions about the integrity of the process.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan questioned the legal basis of the exercise, noting that the Constitution permits intensive revision only under specific circumstances affecting a part or whole constituency. He pointed out that established guidelines requiring transparency were not being followed, raising concerns about procedural fairness.
Prof Ajit Jha underlined the broader democratic implications, stating that the emerging pattern suggested a reversal of democratic norms—where instead of voters choosing their government, processes risked enabling the selection of voters themselves.
Moderating the session, Banojyotsna Lahiri referred to earlier findings, which indicated large-scale exclusions across vulnerable groups, including women, Muslims, Matua community members, and migrant workers. She emphasised that these were not isolated cases but part of a larger pattern that required urgent attention.
Organisers said the intention was to place lived experiences alongside policy discussions. The discussion also addressed broader concerns, including how electoral revisions were being conducted, what safeguards exist to prevent wrongful exclusions, and the need for greater accountability.
The discussion concluded with a call for greater transparency, accountability, and safeguards in electoral revision processes, stressing the need to ensure that no eligible citizen is excluded from the democratic framework.
