Supreme Court’s big statement on SIR controversy, cleared confusion on voter list and citizenship

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday gave a clear clarification on the confusion spread in the country regarding the special revision of the voter list. The court said that if someone’s name is removed from the voter list during SIR, it does not automatically lose his citizenship. There is a separate process to decide citizenship and that is not the job of the Election Commission. This comment of the court came during the hearing on the petition related to SIR being held in West Bengal.

What did the Supreme Court say?    

During the hearing, the Supreme Court reiterated that deciding citizenship does not come under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. The role of the Election Commission is limited only to controlling and supervising the voter list.

The court said that the position of the law is absolutely clear. Even if a tribunal orders that a person’s name not be included in the SIR list, the Election Commission does not have to decide the citizenship. Such cases will have to be sent to the concerned ministry for citizenship determination.

The court said, "Citizenship does not automatically expire just because your name is not in the voter list." Also, the court accepted for hearing the petition seeking information about SIR on the basis of assembly constituency. Now the next hearing of this case will be on August 25.

There is no direct relation between SIR and citizenship.   

The Supreme Court has already said that SIR and voter list have no direct relation with citizenship. Nevertheless, a lot of rumors have spread on this issue in the last few days. Recently a video from Jharkhand went viral. It was claimed that Rs 50 to Rs 100 were being collected from people in the name of filling the SIR form. It was said in the video that "lose citizenship" this money for this "expense water" Are being taken as. After such videos, fear and confusion had increased among the people.

What is the work of the commission and what is not?  

The Supreme Court made it clear that the work of the Election Commission is only to prepare, update the voter list and conduct elections. Whether or not someone is considered an Indian citizen is a matter of the Home Ministry and the related legal process.

This comment of the court has brought relief to those people who were worried about their citizenship because of SIR. Experts believe that this will also curb fake recovery and rumours. Now in the hearing to be held on August 25, more detailed information regarding West Bengal SIR will be sought.