SIR may be legal but not fair: Former EC Ashok Lavasa

Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa. File. | Photo credit: PTI

The ongoing special intensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls is an example of the ‘maybe is right’ philosophy practiced by statutory bodies and institutions, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said on Thursday (September 3, 2026).

Speaking at the Professor Jagdeep Singh Chhokar Memorial Lecture, organized by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Mr Lavasa said one of the most worrying trends today is that statutory institutions, constitutional bodies and governments have suddenly started behaving as if “maybe is right”, a concept he described as outdated.

“The institutions that put the mandate of the law into them … think that whatever they do is right. You have an example of a particularly intensive review where millions of people in the country have been subjected to an unfair process, and you have a judiciary that has confirmed that,” he said.

Disappointing voters

The former election commissioner noted that while the authorities say everything that is happening is legal, “it’s definitely not fair.”

“That’s what justice is about,” he added. “It is not just about enforcing the letter of the law, but also about protecting its spirit. How do you explain the deletion of 13 million names (from electoral rolls)?”

He questioned whether efforts are being made to create a situation where people become disillusioned with the democratic process. “Currently 33% of people don’t even vote and now we have created such mass anxiety,” Mr Lavasa said.

“Politics Driven by Power Dynamics”

Comparing post-independence India with the present day, he noted that the nature of politics as well as the profile of politicians had undergone a tremendous change. It’s fair to question whether elected representatives are actually addressing the issues that need to be addressed, he said.

Mr. Lavasa alleged that critical issues affecting public life — such as the Central Information Commission’s ruling that political parties fall under the Right to Information (RTI) Act — were not taken seriously by any political party.

“How Many Parties Oppose Electoral Bonds?” he asked, adding that political activity today feels largely driven by power dynamics rather than addressing general public concerns.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 21:32 IST