A social media post has criticised opposition parties’ protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing them as a “mockery” and “drama”. The post argues that the Chief Election Commissioner’s main mistake was the rapid implementation of the SIR process, which allegedly created confusion among government officials, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other ground-level personnel.
The post, however, raises separate concerns over the appointment process for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). It points out that Parliament passed a new law in 2023, restructuring the selection committee to include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The post identifies Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the minister concerned and notes that the committee’s majority decision is final.
It argues that the new law departs from the framework suggested by the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench in its 2023 judgment, which had provided for a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India.
The post criticises the BJP-led government’s decision to change the selection process, alleging that it goes against the spirit of the Constitution and the principle of dharma. It further argues that the government and the BJP will have to face the consequences of the decision, invoking the Sanskrit maxim, “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” — those who uphold dharma are protected by it.
