No SIR for Assam yet: EC cites citizenship rules, CM says state will cooperate

Guwahati: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced that Assam will receive a separate order for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing the state’s unique citizenship provisions under the Citizenship Act and the ongoing Supreme Court-monitored citizenship verification process (National Register of Citizens).Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, explained that the June 24 SIR order was meant for the entire country, but could not be extended to Assam due to its distinct legal framework.“Under India’s Citizenship Act, there are separate provisions for Assam. Secondly, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the checking of citizenship there is about to be completed.

The SIR order notified for the entire country would not have been applicable to Assam under such circumstances. So, separate orders for revision will be issued for Assam,” Kumar said.Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier before the EC press conference said his govt will welcome an SIR. “We have already conveyed our view to the central govt in this regard. Whatever instruction we receive from the EC, we will work accordingly,” he added.

Assam Congress leader Ripun Bora said if the ECI attempts to politically assist any party by extensively removing names from the voter list under the guise of corrections, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee will initiate a public awareness campaign against it.“Despite the Election Commission’s announcement today that there is no such activity in Assam, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee remains vigilant and active,” Bora said, adding Congress has trained 29,000 booth level agents and is prepared to launch a public awareness campaign if needed.Assam goes to polls along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry next year. While SIR has been announced for the other four states, Assam’s exclusion from the SIR for now marks a significant moment in the intersection of citizenship law, electoral policy, and regional sensitivities.At the heart of this decision lies Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, a provision exclusive to Assam.It was introduced following the 1985 Assam Accord, which sought to address decades of unrest over illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

This section sets March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for determining citizenship in Assam — a timeline that differs from the rest of India and reflects the state’s distinct demographic challenges.Further complicating the situation is the Supreme Court-monitored updating of the NRC of 1951 is aimed at identifying genuine Indian citizens in the state. The final NRC list, published in 2019, excluded nearly 1.9 million people, sparking legal battles, political debates, and widespread anxiety.

The process remains incomplete with the Supreme Court yet to accept the final list.The commission’s decision to delay SIR in the state underscores its cautious approach. Conducting a voter roll revision in Assam without resolving citizenship disputes could risk disenfranchising individuals or legitimizing ineligible entries.