India, July 12 -- The special intensive revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral roll, ordered by the Election Commission on June 24, has raised serious concerns and disturbing questions. Will possibly crores be disenfranchised as a result? Will the poor and the marginalised be the worst to suffer? And was it necessary to carry it out at this time?

Whilst I know the Representation of People Act authorises the Commission to hold a special revision in any manner it thinks fit and at any time, nonetheless, was it proper that this should be held just four months before assembly elections are due in Bihar? In 2003, the special intensive revision was held two years before the assembly elections, not four months.

Second, the SIR has to be complet...