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Editorial Analysis: Descent into Farce
Theme: Electoral integrity, administrative fairness, and constitutional democracy
Core Issue
The editorial critiques the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India across 12 States/UTs, arguing that ad hoc decisions, poor sequencing, and flawed implementation have converted a routine administrative exercise into a crisis threatening universal adult franchise.
Key Problems Highlighted
1. Procedural Chaos & Ad Hocism
➡️ Governance issue: Violation of procedural due process and natural justice.
2. Timing Before Elections
➡️ UPSC Link: Free and fair elections as part of the Basic Structure doctrine.
3. Massive & Questionable Deletions
➡️ Inference: Methodological weaknesses, not voter fraud, may explain discrepancies.
4. Citizenship Screening Concerns
➡️ Constitutional Risk: Article 326 guarantees voting rights to citizens above 18, not subject to arbitrary administrative hurdles.
Judicial Dimension
Why This Matters (UPSC Perspective)
GS Paper II
Ethics (GS IV)
Critical Takeaway
Updating electoral rolls is an administrative necessity — but when conducted hastily, opaquely, and unevenly, it risks converting inclusion into exclusion.
The editorial warns that the credibility of elections and the sanctity of universal adult franchise are at stake, urging both the ECI and the judiciary to correct course before irreversible democratic damage occurs.
Top 10 Difficult Vocabulary from the Editorial
1. Farce (noun)
Meaning: A situation that is absurd, badly handled, or not taken seriously despite being important.
Example: What was meant to ensure electoral integrity turned into a farce due to poor planning and execution.
2. Furore (noun)
Meaning: An outbreak of public anger, protest, or controversy.
Example: The furore in West Bengal forced the authorities to rethink their verification strategy.
3. Unmapped (adjective)
Meaning: Not linked or matched with existing official records or databases.
Example: Several unmapped voters were summoned without being told why their records were incomplete.
4. Suo motu (adverb / adjective)
Meaning: Action taken on one’s own initiative, without external prompting.
Example: The suo motu deletion of names raised concerns about administrative overreach.
5. Bypassed (verb)
Meaning: To avoid or ignore an established procedure or authority.
Example: Statutory officials were bypassed, undermining institutional accountability.
6. Ad hoc (adjective)
Meaning: Arranged or decided for a particular purpose, often without proper planning.
Example: Ad hoc software usage led to inconsistencies across States.
7. De-duplication (noun)
Meaning: The process of removing duplicate entries from a database.
Example: The sudden abandonment of de-duplication software created confusion in voter verification.
8. Inconsistencies (noun)
Meaning: Lack of uniformity or logical coherence.
Example: Inconsistencies in draft electoral rolls weakened public trust in the process.
9. Haphazardly (adverb)
Meaning: In a disorganised or careless manner.
Example: The enumeration phase appeared to have been conducted haphazardly.
10. Infirmities (noun)
Meaning: Weaknesses or defects in a system, plan, or argument.
Example: Judicial scrutiny is required to address the infirmities in the revision process.
High-Level RC MCQs (Based on the Editorial)
Q1. The author’s primary criticism of the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is that it
A. violates the constitutional authority of the Election Commission
B. lacks legislative backing from Parliament
C. is marked by ad hoc decisions and flawed implementation
D. intentionally targets migrant populations
Q2. The reference to elderly voters being summoned to distant eligibility hearings mainly serves to
A. highlight regional bias in electoral administration
B. illustrate administrative insensitivity and procedural failure
C. question the legality of voter verification hearings
D. suggest deliberate voter suppression
Q3. The inconsistent use of software across States suggests that the ECI
A. lacks technological capacity altogether
B. deliberately avoided judicial scrutiny
C. followed a uniform but decentralised approach
D. failed to adopt a standardised and transparent protocol
Q4. The large-scale deletions followed by “furious inclusion” of names in some States most strongly indicate
A. demographic volatility
B. voter manipulation by State governments
C. flaws in the enumeration methodology
D. data falsification by local officials
Q5. The author’s concern that the SIR resembles a “de facto citizenship screening exercise” rests primarily on
A. the scale of deletions alone
B. the proximity of the exercise to elections
C. the involvement of the Supreme Court
D. the manner and criteria of verification adopted
Q6. The tone of the editorial can best be described as
A. detached and descriptive
B. cautiously optimistic
C. alarmed and critical
D. sarcastic and dismissive
Q7. Which of the following is an implicit assumption underlying the editorial?
A. Electoral rolls should never be revised before elections
B. Technological solutions always worsen administrative outcomes
C. Electoral integrity depends as much on procedure as on intent
D. Courts must always intervene in administrative matters
Q8. By stating that “the fate of the very idea of universal adult franchise hangs in the balance,” the author implies that
A. elections may be postponed indefinitely
B. democratic legitimacy is at risk due to exclusionary practices
C. voter turnout will drastically decline
D. constitutional amendments may become necessary
Q9. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the author’s argument?
A. Evidence that most deleted names belonged to deceased voters
B. Proof that SIR reduced duplicate entries significantly
C. Judicial endorsement of the SIR’s procedural design
D. Reports of political opposition to the ECI’s reforms
Q10. The editorial’s reference to limited judicial intervention primarily underscores the need for
A. greater executive control over electoral processes
B. judicial restraint in electoral matters
C. comprehensive constitutional scrutiny of the SIR
D. postponement of all electoral revisions
Answer Key with Explanations
Q1. → C
The editorial repeatedly stresses ad hoc changes, poor sequencing, and flawed implementation, not illegality per se.
Q2. → B
The example illustrates administrative insensitivity and breakdown of procedure, not explicit intent or illegality.
Q3. → D
The problem is not technology itself, but non-uniform, opaque use of software without clear protocol.
Q4. → C
The rapid deletion followed by mass inclusion points to methodological and enumeration flaws, as explicitly stated.
Q5. → D
The concern arises from how verification is conducted and what criteria are applied, not merely numbers or timing.
Q6. → C
Words like “farce,” “distress,” “chaos,” and “hangs in the balance” signal an alarmed and critical tone.
Q7. → C
The editorial assumes that procedural fairness is essential to electoral integrity — a core democratic principle.
Q8. → B
The phrase implies risk to democratic legitimacy through large-scale, possibly arbitrary disenfranchisement.
Q9. → A
If deletions are largely justified (e.g., deceased voters), the claim of flawed implementation is weakened.
Q10. → C
The author argues that courts should move beyond piecemeal relief and conduct systemic constitutional scrutiny.
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