Congress MP Moves Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha, Demands Halt to SIR Process

New Delhi: On the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on Monday, demanding the immediate suspension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in 12 states and Union Territories. Tagore described the process as an “unprecedented crisis” and raised serious concerns over its implementation.

Allegations Against Election Commission
In his notice, Tagore criticized the Election Commission for implementing the SIR process unilaterally, without consultation with teachers, state authorities, or consideration for public difficulties. He alleged that the process was sudden, coercive, and highly stressful for Booth Level Officers (BLOs), forcing them to work day and night. Several BLOs reportedly collapsed from exhaustion, some died, and there were cases of suicide, yet the Election Commission has neither conducted an investigation nor released state-wise mortality statistics. Tagore termed this “institutional cruelty.”

Impact on Democracy
The MP warned that such high-pressure and poorly planned processes undermine the credibility of democracy. He pointed out the lack of monitoring of suicides, absence of mental health support, no compensation mechanisms, and no emergency protocols. Citizens, he noted, are also affected by repeated verification exercises, confusion, anxiety, and distrust arising from the SIR process.

Five Key Demands
Tagore outlined five major demands before the Lok Sabha:

1. Immediate suspension of the SIR process in the 12 affected states and Union Territories.
2. A full national-level investigation into every death and suicide of BLOs linked to the process.
3. Adequate compensation for affected families.
4. Reforms in electoral procedures to ensure safe working conditions for BLOs.
5. Summoning the Election Commission to provide explanations for the poorly managed implementation of the SIR process.

The motion sets the stage for a heated debate on the pressures faced by election staff and the urgent need to safeguard democratic processes.