Amartya Sen Expresses Concern Over Bihar SIR Exercise, Says It Risks 'Disenfranchising' The Poor

Last Updated:August 23, 2025, 11:56 IST

Sen's concerns echoed those of opposition parties and activists, who claimed that the SIR exercise can lead to wrongful deletions of eligible voters from the rolls if not careful.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. (PTI Photo)

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has expressed concerns over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, warning that they risk “disenfranchising" a large number of poor and marginalised people.

The economist emphasised that administrative processes and periodic revisions are necessary, but these must not come at the cost of fundamental rights, particularly those of impoverished people. He also cast doubts on the fairness of a bureaucratic process that demanded strict documentation from citizens who may not have access to those things.

“Many people don’t have documents. Many cannot vote… If, in the name of trying to improve things a little, harm is caused to many, then that becomes a serious mistake," Sen told reporters on Friday. “You cannot justify seven new mistakes just to correct one."

“Yes, it’s true that from time to time various procedural tasks need to be carried out. However, in doing so, one cannot create a ‘better system’ by trampling on the rights of the poor," he also said.

Sen highlighted the importance of a just and inclusive approach, pointing out that many individuals still lack proper documentation and are excluded from the electoral process. His concerns echo the criticism from opposition parties and activists.

The Election Commission (EC) says the SIR exercise is aimed at updating and verifying the accuracy of electoral rolls, and filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying the list of names and details of 65 lakh electors in Bihar – who were not included in the draft roll published on August 1 – had been posted on the websites of all 38 District Electoral Officers in the state.

The total number of voters in Bihar stood at 7.24 crore after the deletion of 65 lakh electors. The draft electoral roll for Bihar was published on August 1 in Bihar and will be available till September 1 for claims and objections under which parties and individuals can seek inclusion of eligible citizens or exclusion of those they believe are ineligible.

Sen Pushes For ‘Yukta Sadhana’

Meanwhile, the 91-year-old economist, speaking at a public discussion in Kolkata, also underscored the urgent need for India to move beyond passive tolerance towards active communal cooperation, what he described as “yukta sadhana", or “joint practice".

He cited the contributions of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shukoh, who translated fifty Upanishads from Sanskrit to Persian, in globalising Hindu philosophy. He also spoke of his maternal grandfather, Kshitimohan Sen, a renowned scholar who has worked on shared cultural, spiritual and intellectual traditions of Hindus and Muslims.

“The relationship between Hindus and Muslims is not just about tolerance. It’s about collaboration, something we’ve seen historically in music, literature, and architecture," he said.

(with PTI inputs)

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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August 23, 2025, 11:56 IST

News india Amartya Sen Expresses Concern Over Bihar SIR Exercise, Says It Risks 'Disenfranchising' The Poor

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