Listen to this article:

The chief election commissioner (CEC)’s claim that not a single appeal has been filed against deletions in the 12 states where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is complete may sound reassuring. But it is not. Zero appeals do not establish that the exercise has been error-free. They establish only that nobody has filed an appeal through the prescribed mechanism.

There are several possible explanations for that. Voters may not know that they can appeal. They may not know that their names have been deleted. They may not understand the procedure. They may find it difficult to obtain the documents required. Or they may simply decide that pursuing the matter is not worth the time and effort involved.

The CEC himself acknowledged that the lack of awareness could be one reason for the absence of appeals. This makes the interpretation of the number important. If a large number of people face an adverse decision but few challenge it, the first question should be whether the remedy is accessible. The number of appeals cannot by itself establish the quality of the original decision.

Also read: SIR: Aadhaar Architect Nandan Nilekani and Family’s Name Feature in Discrepancy List

Karnataka, where the exercise is underway, provides a useful illustration. When the draft electoral roll was published on August 24, more than 1.07 crore names from the earlier roll had been placed in the ASDDO category of absent, shifted, dead, duplicate, and others. Another 43.81 lakh voters were identified under the categories of logical discrepancies and no mapping, and were to receive notices for........

© The Wire