India, July 9 -- Without any warning, on June 24, the Election Commission announced a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR). At the behest of SIR, 80 million Biharis are being asked to fill forms.

Many also have to produce documents to "prove" their citizenship within 30 days to be eligible to vote. The electoral rolls were cleaned just six months ago. So, what is the urgent need for this new revision? How can the onus be on existing voters to "prove" their citizenship?

Oddly, on the ground, district officials are invoking the Constitution to ramrod this draconian exercise. The EC also has an impossible deadline.

After an uproar, the Commission has clarified that in case of lack of documents "the ERO can take a decision on the ba...