SIR complaints: Panel of former judges to hold first public hearing, ECI invited

An independent panel of former high-ranking judges will convene its inaugural public hearing in Delhi on October 15, 1981, to address citizens' grievances about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter registration lists. The Lawyers Association for Constitution (LAFC) announced the formation of this "independent inquiry commission" on October 2, citing widespread concerns over the SIR's design, execution, and repercussions.

Led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan Lokur, the panel comprises distinguished jurists, including Justice A K Patnaik, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Rekha Sharma from Delhi High Court, and Justice Anjana Prakash of Patna High Court. Their mission is to scrutinize the constitutional legitimacy of the SIR process, the procedures employed, and its effects on voters.

The commission will also evaluate whether an "eligible citizen remained while ineligible entries were correctly eliminated" during the revision. The inquiry will take place at Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi, from 9 am to 1.30 pm, with the panel inviting voters who have lodged complaints to share their experiences. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been invited to send a senior officer to the hearing to listen to the testimonies presented by voters.

Thursday's session will be the maiden hearing of many planned across the country. The commission aims to collect voters' accounts and record them formally as part of the inquiry. In addition to hearing the voters, the panel intends to analyze the electoral roll data, with its research wing examining additions and deletions from the rolls, while a legal support team investigates the pertinent laws, notifications, and verification procedures.

The inquiry will be bolstered by the presence of senior legal experts, such as Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Chander Uday Singh, Prashanto Chandra Sen, Raju Ramachandran, Rebecca Mammen John, Warisha Farasat, and Vrinda Grover. The commission aspires to finalize the inquiry and release its final report by December.