A video from August 2013 featuring then Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal explaining the deletion of names from electoral rolls has resurfaced amid the ongoing debate over SIR and electoral roll revisions.
In the video, Sibal explains that names can be deleted from electoral rolls under three circumstances — when a voter shifts residence to another constituency, when there is a duplicate entry, or when the voter has died.
“I just want to also clarify that the deletion of names comes under three categories. For example, if a person has shifted his residence from one assembly constituency to another, his name would be deleted. He’ll still be there, but he’ll be an elector in another constituency. Or that his name is replicated. He may shift his residence but the name on the electoral roll remains in the old constituency, and it entered in the new constituency. So, one of them will have to be cancelled and to three whether he is expired.
These are the only three categories under which the names are actually deleted.”
Sibal further said that individuals whose names had been wrongly deleted could approach the Election Commission or the Electoral Registration Officer and seek to have their names included again.
“So if there is any individual grievance I think the distinguished member should ask those who are aggrieved to actually move the election commission point out the deficiencies. I may also point out that they are otherwise also entitled to go to the electoral registration officer and say register us assuming the name is deleted. It doesn’t prevent them from getting registered. They can go to the electoral registration officer and ask for registration.”
Sibal also cited figures showing that over 6.44 lakh people had sought inclusion in the electoral rolls during a period in 2013.
“And may I inform the member through you sir that there are such 6,44,105 members who have asked for being included in the electoral role between 5th of July and the 2nd of August. As you know the electoral role is being brought up to date and that’s a dynamic continuous exercise and it is frozen as of 1st of any given year. So throughout the year the electoral role keeps on changing.”
He concluded by explaining that those whose names were wrongly deleted could approach the Electoral Registration Officer with proof of their address and seek correction of the electoral roll.
“So if those individuals whose names have been wrongly deleted, they can still go to the electoral registration officer and say please include us. This is our address. We live here. You wrongly deleted it. And that dynamic list will be corrected.”
I don’t like Kapil Sibal as he is always found to be protecting the corrupt, extremists & anti social elements.
For the first time, I like him because he has exposed the bogus vote chori drama of Congress party through his old speech in Parliament as Law Minister!! https://t.co/7o51J7UMfC— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 6, 2026
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