Can examine citizenship for poll rolls: EC to SC

DEFENDING its stand in the SIR exercise, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it functions as the original authority in matters relating to electoral rolls and the conduct of polls and its opinion is binding on the President if a person acquires citizenship of another country.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @New Delhi

“The consequence of an adverse finding during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) would only be exclusion of the person’s name from the electoral roll and does not ipso facto (by that very fact) result in deportation, but it may be referred to the Centre for scrutiny and possible action under the Citizenship Act and related Jaws,” the EC said.