A group of 124 former IAS, IFS and allied-service officers publishes an open letter defending India’s Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while challenging claims of vote rigging that, they say, lack credible evidence. The officials argue that the electoral system today has safeguards intended to prevent manipulation and protect voters’ rights.
The letter says India has moved away from past practices such as booth capturing, ballot box stuffing and election-related violence, and instead relies on measures including polling agents, sealing of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT verification. Drawing on the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the officers cite administrative outcomes such as high voter turnout and contend that the same Election Commission has overseen polls where the ruling party at the Centre lost multiple state contests.
On the SIR process, the officers describe it as a step to update the voter list by removing deceased electors, correcting duplicate entries and adding newly eligible voters. They say safeguards include publication of draft rolls, claims and objections, hearings and appeal mechanisms. Across reports, the differing emphasis is on defending election integrity versus urging allegations to be tested through established legal channels such as objections and election petitions.
