'SIR ‘Legal But Not Fair’, Says Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa

Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa has criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating that it may be legal but not fair. He described the SIR as an unfair procedure imposed on millions of people, questioning whether it truly upholds the principles of justice. Lavasa argued that while the judiciary has validated the exercise and the government has deemed it legal, the critical question remains whether the process is fair.

He emphasized that justice encompasses not only legality but also fairness, highlighting that "might is right" is an outdated concept. The SIR, which involves the deletion of 13 crore names from electoral rolls, has raised concerns about alienating voters and further disenchanting citizens with the democratic process. Lavasa's remarks underscore the potential political implications of the SIR, as the Election Commission claims the exercise targets ineligible citizens but lacks evidence.