2 weeks ago
Delhi High Court Weighs Homeless Inclusion in Electoral Roll Revision
The Delhi High Court heard a case about homeless people being counted in voter-list checks.
The check is called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
Officials usually visit people at their recorded homes during this process.
The petitioner said this could leave out people who have no home or were displaced by demolitions.
The petition said Delhi has about three lakh homeless people.
The Election Commission said it knows about the problem and already has a process for people without addresses.
The petitioner’s lawyer disagreed with that claim.
The court has not yet announced its decision and said the Election Commission should work out the best system.
The Delhi High Court reserved its order on a PIL concerning homeless people’s inclusion in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The petition argued that house-to-house enumeration could exclude homeless people and those displaced by demolitions.
The petitioner’s counsel said Delhi has around three lakh homeless people at risk of being left out.
The Election Commission said it was aware of the concern and had a protocol for people without addresses.
The court said the PIL did not identify specific individuals excluded and that the Election Commission should develop an appropriate mechanism.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court, petitioner Indu Prakash Singh, and the Election Commission.
- What
- The court reserved its order on a PIL seeking safeguards for homeless and displaced people during the electoral-roll revision.
- Where
- New Delhi, in the Delhi High Court; the SIR concerns electoral rolls in Delhi.
- When
- Wednesday, August 19, according to the report; the year was not specified.
- Why
- The petition argued that house-to-house enumeration could exclude people without stable addresses or those displaced by demolitions.
Petitioner’s Concerns
Election Commission and Court’s Position
Risk of exclusion
Petitioner’s Concerns
The petitioner argued that house-to-house enumeration creates a structural barrier for homeless and displaced people and could threaten their voting rights.
Election Commission and Court’s Position
The Election Commission said it was aware of the concern and had a protocol for people without addresses.
Evidence presented
Petitioner’s Concerns
The petitioner sought directions to ensure the enrolment or retention of homeless and displaced people in the SIR process.
Election Commission and Court’s Position
The court said the petition did not identify specific citizens who had been left out and questioned whether it was based on perception rather than documented instances.
Responsibility for a solution
Petitioner’s Concerns
The petitioner’s counsel opposed the Election Commission’s claim that an adequate protocol was already in place.
Election Commission and Court’s Position
The bench said developing a suitable mechanism was primarily the Election Commission’s responsibility and that such matters should not all be thrust upon the courts.
Key facts
- Case type
- Public interest litigation concerning electoral-roll inclusion
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Affected group
- Homeless people and people displaced by demolitions
- Estimated population cited
- Around 3 lakh homeless persons in Delhi
- Election Commission position
- A protocol already exists for situations involving people without addresses
- Court’s observation
- The PIL did not cite specific individuals who had been excluded
- Order status
- The Delhi High Court reserved its order
Quotes
Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya
Chair of the bench that reserved judgment on the PIL
“"Don’t ask us to adjudicate these issues. It is for them to evolve a mechanism about how to have a more appropriate way to conduct this exercise. Everything should not be thrust upon the courts."”
theprint.in
“"We will pass an order"”
theprint.in
Sources
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