‘System can’t be honest when you win and rigged when you lose’: 124 ex-bureaucrats defend Election Commission, SIR exercise
Defending SIR, the ex-civil servants described it as a necessary process to maintain accurate electoral rolls by identifying deceased voters, duplicate entries
A group of 124 former Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and allied services officers have penned an open letter defending the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The officials dismissed allegations of vote-rigging without credible evidence and highlighted India's electoral system's transformation from "an era of booth capturing, ballot box stuffing and electoral violence."
They emphasized the multi-layered checks and safeguards in place, including polling agents, electronic voting machine (EVM) sealing, strong-room security, and VVPAT verification.
The officials pointed out Bihar's 2025 Assembly elections, which achieved no re-polling and recorded the highest voter turnout since 1951. They questioned the statement, "A system cannot be honest when you win and rigged when you lose," as several State elections and the party's parliamentary majority under the same ECI had been lost.
Defending the ECI's independence, the officials stressed its multi-member structure and institutional safeguards. They argued that questioning is every citizen's right, but proving is the accuser's duty.
Regarding the SIR, they explained that it was crucial for cleaning up electoral rolls. They cited the identification of around 22 lakh deceased voters and 7 lakh duplicate entries in Bihar, along with the addition of about 21.5 lakh new voters. The officials emphasized that an uncleaned roll does not protect the voter; it protects the fraudster.
They mentioned safeguards such as notice, hearings, appeals, and participation of political parties' booth-level agents. The Supreme Court's scrutiny of the exercise, additional safeguards, and upholding the Election Commission's authority to undertake it were also mentioned.
In response to those doubting election results, the former officials urged, "If the system you call rigged is the same one that handed you your victories, ask yourself whether it is the system you doubt, or only the result."
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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