Explained | What is SIR and why has it triggered protests against the Election Commission?

Over 700 protesters, including AAP leaders and student activists, were detained in Delhi on Friday as demonstrations were held demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protests followed allegations by opposition parties and civil society groups that SIR has resulted in the deletion of millions of eligible voters, a claim rejected by the Election Commission. The controversy has also triggered protests beyond Delhi, including a demonstration in Mumbai, while security measures in the capital included barricades, deployment of central forces and restrictions around Jantar Mantar.

SIR is a door-to-door verification exercise aimed at updating electoral rolls by identifying entries relating to deceased, permanently shifted and duplicate electors, as well as people who are otherwise ineligible to vote. The exercise was first undertaken in Bihar in 2025 and was subsequently expanded to other states and Union territories in phases. On October 27, 2025, the Election Commission ordered the second phase of SIR in nine states and three Union territories.

The Election Commission has described SIR as an exercise to clean up legacy electoral data and ensure that the rolls contain eligible voters. It has pointed to the need to remove entries relating to people who have died, permanently shifted or been duplicated, saying such entries can remain on electoral rolls for years and contribute to elector numbers growing faster than the population.

Why are protesters demanding the CEC's resignation?

The protesters' claim that the SIR has led to the mass deletion of eligible voters. AAP MP Sanjay Singh has claimed that 1.37 crore were removed in the SIR process, while Former CEC O. P Rawat has said that due to SIR, the country is witnessing “so many voters losing their vote for the first time.”

The row intensified after an Indian Express report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months, including to decisions taken without informing them.

The Election Commission has rejected the report, saying decisions were taken unanimously by the three-member panel and did not amount to institutional dissent.

Former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, however, criticised the scale of voter exclusions under the exercise and questioned how many illegal immigrants had actually been identified, given that tackling such entries was cited as one of its primary objectives. Quraishi said the right to vote is a constitutional right under Article 326 and argued that removing large numbers of voters from the rolls amounted to “tinkering with democracy”.

The removal of the Election Commissioners is governed by constitutional safeguards. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, an Election Commissioner can be removed by the President only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner, while the CEC can be removed only through a process similar to that for a Supreme Court judge, requiring a special majority in both Houses of Parliament. The provision makes the removal of a sitting CEC a particularly difficult process.

An impeachment notice against Mr. Kumar was already considered by the opposition. A special majority in both Houses is required to prove misconduct or incapacity under Article 324(5). The CEC has the same security of tenure as a Supreme Court judge. Removal is deliberately hard, needing a special majority in both houses.

Who is protesting, and how did the Delhi Police respond?

It was led by political parties and student activists. AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Sanjay Singh were detained by Delhi Police, with activists of AISA, SFI, DYFI and NSUI.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed by the police in the New Delhi District, restricting unauthorized gatherings. The areas have been barricaded and fortified, to prevent protesters from reaching the Jantar Mantar, deployed central armed police forces and drones, and Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at several central stations.

Police stated that the detentions aimed to prevent unauthorized gatherings. Reports indicated that the number detained was either "more than 500" or "around 700.”

Mobile internet access around Connaught Place was reportedly suspended. The Internet Freedom Foundation condemned the action and said they were investigating the suspension order.

How far beyond Delhi is the protest spreading?

The CJP had announced a parallel protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 2, despite Mumbai Police denying permission for the gathering. Police said they were not empowered to grant permission for a public gathering at the ground under a 2013 Bombay High Court order and subsequent government guidelines, and cited the area’s silence-zone status, traffic concerns and the possibility of disruption around nearby hospitals.

The protest nevertheless went ahead, with hundreds of supporters gathering at Shivaji Park and demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Singer Vishal Dadlani joined the demonstration, while actor Naseeruddin Shah, actor Shabana Azmi and actor Prakash Raj also expressed support for the protest.

Dipke has said the agitation will be taken to other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata, before culminating in a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He has said the movement will continue until Kumar resigns.

The campaign has also received support from outside the CJP. In an open letter, the Constitutional Conduct Group, a group of former officials, described the Election Commission’s functioning under Kumar as “imperious, autocratic and dictatorial” and called for his resignation, alleging that the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision amounted to a serious infringement of constitutional functioning and legality. These are the group’s characterisations, rather than established findings.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), have separately criticised the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and demanded greater accountability. The INDIA bloc has announced district-level protests from October 2 to 8 and a march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6.