SIR may be legal but it is not fair: Former EC Ashok Lavasa
Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa criticized the current special intensive revision of electoral rolls, arguing that statutory bodies are prioritizing legal technicalities over fairness. He expressed concern over the mass deletion of names and the potential for public disenchantment with democratic processes.
Why it matters
The integrity and fairness of electoral processes are fundamental to the health of a democracy and public trust in institutions.
The ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is an example of the “might is right” philosophy being practised by statutory bodies and institutions, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said on Thursday (September 3, 2026).
Delivering the Prof. Jagdeep Singh Chhokar Memorial Lecture, organised by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Mr. Lavasa said one of the most disturbing trends today is that statutory institutions, constitutional bodies, and governments have suddenly started behaving as if “might is right”, a concept he described as outdated.
“Institutions that have the mandate of law invested in them... think whatever they do is right. You have the example of the special intensive revision, where an unfair procedure has been imposed on millions of people in the country, and you have the judiciary which has validated that,” he said.
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