In Assam, first evicted, now erased
The issue of electoral roll revision and disenfranchisement of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam connects to broader debates on NRC, citizenship determination, and constitutional rights (Articles 19, 21, 326). It highlights the intersection of eviction from government land and subsequent loss of voter identity, raising concerns about statelessness and democratic exclusion. For UPSC, this is relevant to governance accountability, federalism, rights of minorities, and the role of the Election Commission.
Key facts
- More than 2,000 voters in Kachutali village (~30 km east of Guwahati) could not participate in elections after electoral roll revision.
- Affected persons are mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims who were evicted from government land in Assam.
- After eviction and relocation, their voter IDs were deemed invalid due to address discrepancies in revised electoral rolls.
- The disenfranchisement reflects the cumulative impact of land eviction drives combined with electoral roll updates.
- The affected community fears being rendered stateless, echoing anxieties around the NRC (National Register of Citizens) process in Assam.
After a revision of electoral rolls in Assam, many people, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims evicted from government land, lost their voting rights and now hold voter IDs deemed invalid. The fear of being made non-citizens is strongest at Kachutali village, about 30 km east of Guwahati, where more than 2,000 voters could not be a part of the democratic process of electing a new government.
Concepts to know
Guarantees the right to vote to every citizen of India above the prescribed age (18 years) on grounds of universal adult suffrage; inaccurate electoral rolls can violate this fundamental democratic right.
Guarantees protection of life and personal liberty. Courts have interpreted it broadly to include the right to live with dignity, which encompasses freedom from arbitrary detention of journalists and activists.
A register of Indian citizens; the exercise in Assam and rhetoric around illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been a friction point in bilateral relations, as Bangladesh views it as targeting Bengali-origin Muslims.
The Election Commission of India periodically updates voter lists; changes in address due to eviction or displacement can lead to deletion from rolls, effectively disenfranchising legitimate citizens.
A constitutional body under Article 324 responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures, including Rajya Sabha elections.
Quasi-judicial bodies in Assam empowered to determine whether a person is a foreigner under the Foreigners Act, 1946; their decisions have direct bearing on citizenship status and voting rights.
Linked previous-year questions
The UPSC questions this story connects to.
Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the elections law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 1996: 1. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of Indian shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six year from the date of conviction 2. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha 3. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliament Constituency 4. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate Which of the above statements are correct? (a) 2 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- a.2 and 3
- b.1, 2 and 4 ✓
- c.1 and 3
- d.1, 2, 3 and 4
Polity · UPSC 1999The following news item appeared in a National daily dated 1-12-1999: "...Parliament today rejected a Bill to grant women the right to vote and stand for office in parliamentary elections, by a margin of 32 to 30. The National Assembly was split between liberal pro-government and Shiite Muslim deputies who were in favour of women's rights, while the opposition camp grouped Sunni Muslim fundamentalists and tribal MPs. A total of 64 MPs and Ministers were present, of whom two abstained." The Parliament referred to in this quotation is that of: (a) Kuwait (b) Iran (c) Bahrain (d) Saudi Arabia
- a.Kuwait ✓
- b.Iran
- c.Bahrain
- d.Saudi Arabia
International Relations · UPSC 2000Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List–I (Amendments to the Constitution) List–II A. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 1. Establishment of state level Rent Tribunals B. The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994 2. No reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh C. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000 3. Constitution of Panchayats in Villages or at other local level D. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000 4. Accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission 5. According the status of National Capital Territory to Delhi (a) A-5, B-1, C-4, D-2 (b) A-1, B-5, C-3, D-4 (c) A-5, B-1, C-3, D-4 (d) A-1, B-5, C-4, D-2
- a.A-5, B-1, C-4, D-2 ✓
- b.A-1, B-5, C-3, D-4
- c.A-5, B-1, C-3, D-4
- d.A-1, B-5, C-4, D-2
Polity · UPSC 2001Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India: 1. The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College. 2. Higher the number of elective Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that State. 3. The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala. 4. The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four
- a.Only one ✓
- b.Only two
- c.Only three
- d.All four
Polity · UPSC 2023Consider the following statements: 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies. 2. In the 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies. 3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3
- a.1 only
- b.2 only ✓
- c.1 and 3
- d.2 and 3
Polity · UPSC 2021Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State. 2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- a.1 only
- b.2 only
- c.Both 1 and 2
- d.Neither 1 nor 2 ✓
Polity · UPSC 2020
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