Rolls and loopholes: on the Bihar SIR and Aland

In the backdrop of the Bihar SIR controversy and the alarming trend of mass filing of Form 7 applications in Aland constituency in Karnataka, with a planned motive of removing legitimate voters from the electoral roll, this The Hindu editorial on 08/09/2025 argues that the ECI should take proactive measures to rectify systemic issues. It notes that, while the data discrepancies have raised concerns, there is no concrete evidence to allege fraudulent manipulation in favour of any political party. However, the Aland fraud was unearthed not by the vigilance of the ECI but due to the timely intervention and untiring efforts of local politicians, and in an independent investigation that couldn’t proceed further, as the ECI denied access to technical records. Its fate is now uncertain, as it depends on the discretion of the ECI. In Bihar, the ECI released the names and reasons for deletion only after being compelled by the Supreme Court. However, both issues indicated the absence of verifiable data and a reactionary response from the ECI, rather than a proactive one. The core issue is the lack of a mechanism for the independent verification of ECI claims, as well as the growing trust deficit between the ECI and political parties, as even a small change in the election data can alter the results. The partial explanation may lead to suspicion on the ECI’s transparency, which proper data could otherwise resolve. Resorting to court is not a viable solution as it shifts the power of authority and raises serious questions about the systemic fault of the ECI, even when each case can be explained as a technical failure or administrative lapse. Hence, the editorial concludes that the ECI must take proactive steps to address these concerns by assisting the Aland probe to prevent the misuse of Form 7 and voter deletion, rather than waiting for judicial intervention.