A people’s tribunal focusing on concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is being held in Bengaluru on October 8. The programme is taking place at Freedom Park and is expected to bring together activists, civil society representatives and people who say they have been affected by the electoral-roll revision process.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee are expected to participate in the programme. Actor and activist Prakash Raj is also scheduled to attend the event and has urged citizens to participate.
The organisers say the tribunal will provide an opportunity for people from different parts of Karnataka to explain their experiences concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Some participants are expected to claim that their names were wrongly removed or affected during the revision process.
The Special Intensive Revision, commonly referred to as SIR, has become a major political and public issue in several parts of India. Political parties, activists and civil society groups have raised questions about the revision of electoral rolls and its possible impact on eligible voters.
The Bengaluru event has been organised against this backdrop. According to the organisers, the tribunal is intended to document the experiences of people who believe they were affected by the revision process and bring their concerns into the public domain.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, is expected to participate in the tribunal and interact with people who claim to have been wrongly removed from the electoral rolls. The organisation has been campaigning against what it describes as irregularities in the voter-list revision process.
Dhruv Rathee has also confirmed his participation in the Bengaluru programme. Actor Prakash Raj previously announced Rathee’s participation and urged members of the public to attend the event. Rathee subsequently confirmed his participation through a video posted on social media.
Prakash Raj has been vocal about his concerns regarding the SIR exercise and has encouraged citizens to participate in the Bengaluru programme. He has described the event as an opportunity to hear from people who say they have been affected by the revision of electoral rolls.
The organisers have also announced a symbolic chappal protest following the people’s tribunal. According to CJP representatives, the protest is being held in solidarity with women and is intended to draw attention to concerns related to women’s safety.
The programme is scheduled to begin at 10.30 am at Freedom Park. The people’s tribunal will take place first, followed by the chappal protest. The organisers have invited members of youth organisations, civil society groups and the general public to participate.
The Bengaluru programme is also part of a wider campaign being organised by CJP and other groups over concerns related to electoral rolls. The organisation has raised several demands, including greater scrutiny of the SIR process and action on cases where eligible voters allegedly lost their names from electoral rolls.
CJP representatives have also called for the restoration of an earlier electoral roll and an independent inquiry into their allegations. These demands represent the position of the organisers and have not been established as findings by a court or an independent investigation.
The event comes at a time when the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revisions has become the subject of political debate. Opposition parties and activist groups have raised concerns over voter deletions and the procedures followed during the revision process.
At the same time, claims about wrongful deletion of voters remain matters of political and public debate. Individual cases may require verification through official electoral records and the appropriate election authorities. Therefore, allegations made at the tribunal should be distinguished from independently established facts.
The tribunal is expected to provide a platform for affected individuals to narrate their experiences. Organisers believe that collecting such accounts will help draw attention to concerns surrounding the electoral-roll revision process.
The participation of public figures such as Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj is also expected to attract wider public attention to the programme. Their involvement has been announced in connection with the campaign against the SIR process.
The Bengaluru event is also being viewed as part of a larger mobilisation. CJP and other organisations have announced further activities in Delhi, including a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The wider campaign focuses on allegations concerning voter deletions and demands for greater transparency in electoral processes.
The organisers have urged citizens to join the Bengaluru programme and support their campaign. Prakash Raj has also appealed to people to participate, saying that the event would provide an opportunity for those who claim to have been affected by SIR to share their experiences.
The people’s tribunal itself is not a judicial proceeding or a court hearing. It is a public forum organised by civil society and activist groups to discuss concerns and hear accounts from people who say they have been affected by the electoral-roll revision.
The outcome of the tribunal therefore will not constitute a judicial determination regarding the allegations. Any questions concerning voter eligibility, deletion or restoration of names ultimately remain subject to the procedures and decisions of the competent election authorities and courts.
The Bengaluru programme has nevertheless gained attention because of the participation of prominent public figures and the wider political debate surrounding electoral rolls. The event is expected to focus on the experiences of affected voters and the concerns raised by organisers regarding the SIR exercise.
