No justification for mass voter disenfranchisement: Judge Bhuyan

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has issued a strong statement rejecting arguments used to justify the removal of large numbers of voters from electoral rolls, calling such measures "intrinsically arbitrary" in nature.

The judge's comments underscore growing judicial scrutiny of administrative procedures affecting voter eligibility. According to Justice Bhuyan, comparative arguments or references to other jurisdictions cannot serve as valid justification for stripping citizens of their fundamental right to vote.

The remarks assume significance in the context of recent debates surrounding the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process, through which electoral authorities conduct periodic updates to voter rolls. Critics have raised concerns that such exercises sometimes result in the disenfranchisement of eligible voters without adequate safeguards.

Justice Bhuyan's intervention reflects broader judicial concern about protecting electoral participation. The judge's position emphasizes that any administrative action affecting voting rights must meet stringent standards of fairness and transparency, rather than relying on comparative practices or deflective arguments.

The statement adds to mounting pressure on election authorities to review their procedures for removing names from voter rolls and to ensure that eligible citizens retain their voting privileges.