Kerala Assembly passes resolution against implementation of SIR in the state

The resolution, moved by the CM Pinarayi Vijayan, was passed by the assembly with two minor amendments. The resolution said the "politics of exclusion" was reflected in the SIR carried out in Bihar.

The resolution highlighted that the conditions laid down in SIR would result in minorities, SC/ST people, women and poor families being excluded from the election process. (File photo | ANI)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expressing concern that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll was aimed at indirectly implementing the National Register of Citizens, the Kerala legislative assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to desist from the move and to carry out electoral roll revision in a transparent manner.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was passed by the assembly with two minor amendments. The resolution said the "politics of exclusion" was reflected in the SIR carried out in Bihar. The exclusion of voters was "illogical" and implementing the same across the country has given rise to widespread suspicion.  

"Implementing SIR in a hasty manner in poll-bound states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, when the Supreme Court is yet to decide on the constitutional validity of the process, cannot be seen as an innocent move," the resolution said.

The undue haste in implementation of SIR, which needs to be carried out only after long-drawn planning and discussions, has given rise to fears that the process is aimed at scuttling democracy and has brought the ECI under a cloud, it said.

The resolution pointed out that Kerala is facing the local body election soon and the assembly polls thereafter. Implementing SIR at such a juncture has ulterior motives. Besides, carrying out SIR using the 2002 voters' list is "unscientific", the assembly said.

The move to exclude voters who do not have documents to prove citizenship is a violation of Article 236 of the Constitution that ensures universal adult suffrage for citizens, it said.

The resolution highlighted that the conditions laid down in SIR would result in minorities, SC/ST people, women and poor families being excluded from the election process. Besides, the rights of overseas electors to vote should also be protected, the resolution said.

The resolution also cautioned that SIR would be prone to misuse by those who are attempting to revive the Citizenship Amendment Act that decides citizenship on religious lines. This poses a "grave challenge" to democracy, the resolution said.