Kerala Legislative Assembly Passes Resolution Against Hasty Voter List Revision

The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The resolution, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, warned that rushing the process could harm democratic rights. Opposition members suggested amendments, some of which were accepted before the motion was adopted.

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Concerns Over CAA Link

The Assembly expressed concern that the SIR could be used to indirectly revive the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which grants citizenship based on religion. Lawmakers argued that such measures violate fundamental rights and urged the Election Commission to instead carry out a transparent and fair update of the voter rolls.

Bihar’s SIR Experience

Citing Bihar’s experience, the resolution noted that SIR there was viewed as a politics of exclusion, with voters being unfairly removed from the list. With the Supreme Court still reviewing its validity, the Assembly cautioned against blindly introducing the same system in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, especially ahead of crucial elections.

Flaws in Voter Criteria

The resolution criticised the use of the 2002 voter list as a baseline, calling it “unscientific.” It highlighted that voters born after 1987 would need to produce citizenship documents of both parents, while those born after 2003 faced even stricter conditions. Such rules, it argued, violate universal adult suffrage guaranteed under Article 326 of the Constitution.

Impact on Marginalised Groups

Experts cited in the resolution warned that marginalised communities—minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and poor families—would be most affected by the SIR. It also emphasised that the rights of non-resident voters must remain safeguarded.

Call for Transparency

The Assembly concluded that a hasty SIR threatens democratic principles. It called for a transparent and inclusive voter list revision process that upholds the rights of every citizen.

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