Supreme Court opposes the use of Special Intensive Revision data for welfare exclusion and calls for a response from the Election Commission of India and the West Bengal government.
GS2The HinduGS2Supreme CourtElection Commission of IndiaSpecial Intensive Revision
The Supreme Court has questioned the use of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral-roll data for non-electoral purposes. The Court said that SIR data is meant for elections and cannot be repurposed to decide access to welfare or other civic rights.
The Court also noted that the Election Commission of India does not determine citizenship. According to the Court, unless a citizenship reference is made under the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person’s status cannot be conclusively altered for other purposes.
The bench issued notices to the Election Commission of India, the West Bengal government, and the State Chief Electoral Officer after a Congress leader argued that people removed from the rolls were being denied welfare benefits.
