Controversy Over Election Commission's Electoral Roll Revision and Procedural Lapses

Gist A recent press note by the Election Commission of India ECI regarding the Special Investigative Revision SIR and electoral roll updates has sparked serious allegations of procedural and legal misconduct. The note's promises to introduce meeting agendas, revert to statutory forms, and review its electoral software are being interpreted by critics as a formal admission of prior illegalities. For a civil services aspirant, this development is crucial as it highlights the administrative mechanics of voter registration, the statutory limits of the ECI's powers under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 , and the constitutional threshold required to impeach a Chief Election Commissioner. Background Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in the ECI. To ensure independence, Article 324 5 , read with Article 124 4 , states that the Chief Election Commissioner CEC can only be removed through an impeachment process identical to that of a Supreme Court judge, specifically on grounds of "proved misbehaviour or incapacity." The current controversy stems from the ECI's massive electoral roll revision exercise, which utilized specialized…