Punjab Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Seeking Safeguards for Voters Under SIR

The resolution urged the Union government and relevant constitutional authorities to ensure transparency in the revision process, impartial scrutiny of discrepancies in electoral rolls and accountability in the conduct of elections.

Addressing the House, Cheema said safeguarding every eligible citizen’s right to vote was essential to strengthening Indian democracy. He referred to Articles 324, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, which deal with the Election Commission’s authority, non-discrimination in electoral rolls and universal adult suffrage.

The minister also recalled the historical struggle for voting rights before Independence and paid tribute to B.R. Ambedkar for his contribution to establishing the constitutional framework for equal political participation.

Cheema said the right to vote enabled citizens across economic and social backgrounds, including labourers, Dalits, minorities and disadvantaged communities, to participate equally in governance.

Concerns over electoral roll deletions

Cheema raised concerns over reports of large-scale deletions from electoral rolls and the alleged exclusion of eligible voters during revision exercises in different parts of the country.

He said public confidence in democratic institutions depended on ensuring that no eligible citizen was unfairly deprived of the right to vote.

Referring to controversies surrounding electoral rolls in Delhi and other states, the minister cited complaints alleging that supporters of Opposition parties and members of marginalised communities had been selectively targeted.

He called for an impartial investigation into such complaints, adding that deliberate attempts to undermine the electoral process should attract strict criminal action if established through evidence.

The concerns and allegations cited by the minister were presented as grounds for seeking greater scrutiny of the revision process.

Demand for independent scrutiny and accountability

The resolution called for an independent, transparent and credible mechanism to examine reported irregularities in electoral rolls and scrutinise administrative conduct under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Cheema stressed that the Election Commission’s institutional autonomy, neutrality and accountability were essential to the functioning of constitutional democracy.

Through the resolution, the Assembly urged the Union government and relevant constitutional authorities to protect eligible citizens’ voting rights, order an impartial inquiry into reported discrepancies and establish accountability wherever irregularities were found.

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Election Commissioner for appropriate follow-up action.

The resolution places the Punjab Assembly’s concerns over voter inclusion and electoral transparency on record, while calling for scrutiny of alleged irregularities rather than treating the allegations as established findings.