Democracy at risk due to illegal voter removal: Former SC judge Nariman
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has raised alarm over what he describes as democracy being placed in grave peril due to the illegal removal of voters from electoral rolls. Speaking ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the SIR controversy and a plea seeking suspension of the Chief Election Commissioner for unilateral decisions, Justice Nariman emphasized that a citizen's right to vote—fundamental to democracy—is under serious threat because of systematic disenfranchisement.
The former judge pointed to West Bengal as a case study of the problem, noting that approximately 90 lakh voters were disenfranchised in the state's elections. He highlighted that around 93% of adjudicated cases involving deleted voters in West Bengal had been decided in the voters' favour, indicating they were illegally removed. Justice Nariman also critiqued the appointment process for election commissioners, which remains in the hands of the central government, terming this a structural vulnerability that has recently demonstrated its dangers.
Expressing concern that the Supreme Court has not intervened sufficiently to stay such mass disenfranchisement, Justice Nariman voiced hope that the court would step in and rectify the systemic failures within the election management apparatus. He stressed the need for reform in how election commissioners are appointed to prevent further erosion of democratic institutions.
