Kolkata: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the detention of Muslim migrants and marginalised people came under scrutiny at a civil rights convention in Kolkata on Sunday, with speakers warning that the potential exclusion of eligible voters and restrictions on peaceful dissent could undermine the foundations of parliamentary democracy.
Organised by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), the West Bengal state convention, titled “Lawyers and Rights: Activists for Justice”, brought together legal professionals, human rights activists, academics and representatives of different communities at the Science City Convention Centre.
The event also marked the formal launch of APCR’s activities in West Bengal. The SIR exercise has drawn criticism from judicial experts, human rights activists and community leaders, who fear that the exclusion of eligible voters from electoral rolls could undermine multiparty democracy in India. Critics have characterised such potential disenfranchisement as a threat to democracy, arguing that the right to vote is fundamental to representative government and that electoral-roll revision must not deprive eligible citizens of political participation.
The convention placed electoral rights within a broader discussion on constitutional safeguards, freedom of expression and the rule of law. Speakers also expressed concern over the detention of lawyers and rights activists during protests in Delhi on October 10, saying the incident raised questions about the protection of peaceful assembly and dissent.
Supreme Court senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the detention of lawyers on their way to participate in a protest raised serious concerns about police action and the right to peaceful assembly.
“Detaining lawyers who were on their way to participate in a protest weakens the rule of law and raises questions about the legality and proportionality of police action,” Bhushan said. He emphasised that peaceful protest must be protected and that the police must operate within the limits prescribed by law.
Democracy, Dissent and Minority Rights
Retired Bombay High Court judge Abhay Mahadev Thipsay, in his concluding remarks, underscored the fundamental principles of democracy, saying, “It is not the consent of the majority; democracy prevails when the rights of the minority are ensured.” He emphasised the importance of an independent judiciary and the impartial application of the law in protecting citizens’ rights.
Apoorvanand, a professor at Delhi University and a political commentator, argued that safeguarding civil liberties could not be left to lawyers and activists alone. A democratic society, he said, must protect citizens’ freedom to speak, express dissent and participate in public life. This required a collective commitment to equality, constitutional values and the rights of every citizen.
Human rights activist Nadeem Khan urged participants not to surrender to despair in the face of injustice. Quoting the expression, “Na-ummeedi kufr hai aur is desh mein na-ummeedi maut hai” — despair is a denial of faith, and in this country now, despair is death — he called for perseverance, solidarity and sustained collective action across all sections of society to safeguard the secular republic.
Other prominent participants included social leader Malik Mohtasim Khan, election analyst and human rights activist Mukhtar Khan, columnist Barnali Banerjee, and former Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Bhaskar Gupta.
The programme was moderated by researcher and social activist Fawaz Shaheen and APCR West Bengal secretary Umar Awais.
APCR Launches Helpline and Voter Name-Restoration Initiative
As part of its launch in the state, APCR announced a helpline, 8100010233, to assist people facing alleged violations of their constitutional, legal and civil rights. According to the organisation, the service will provide assistance with legal aid, human rights complaints, voting rights and related enquiries.
The organisation also publicised its name-restoration initiative, which encourages people to submit applications to the Chief Electoral Officer and the Election Commission of India seeking the restoration of their names to electoral rolls. The initiative’s website is https://namerestoration.apcrbengal.org/.
The convention sought to bring lawyers, activists, academics and community representatives onto a common platform to address access to justice and civil liberties. Its focus on electoral participation reflected a wider concern that the legitimacy of democracy depends not merely on elections being held, but also on citizens being able to exercise their voting rights without fear of exclusion or intimidation.
