India's voter roll overhaul draws UN criticism over minority exclusions

Three United Nations special rapporteurs wrote to the Indian government on May 1, expressing concern that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may disproportionately remove minority voters. The letter cites the deletion of nearly 52 million names across 12 states and Union Territories, with West Bengal alone losing about 9.1 million entries, many of whom are Muslims. The rapporteurs also warned that an AI‑driven system used to flag irregularities could lack transparency and bias outcomes, and that political rhetoric linking deletions to “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” may incite discrimination.

The UN experts asked for details on steps taken to ensure eligible voters can participate in the 2026 Assembly elections and sought a response to the alleged discriminatory impact. The Indian Supreme Court recently upheld the legality of the SIR, stating it supports free and fair elections. The UN communication highlights potential violations of India’s human‑rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.