The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified before the Supreme Court that its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is strictly limited to identifying and deleting non-citizens from voter lists and does not extend to the termination of citizenship or deportation. This statement was made during Supreme Court hearings on petitions challenging the constitutional validity and methodology of the SIR process. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the EC, argued that Article 326 of the Constitution mandates only Indian citizens are entitled to be included in electoral rolls, and the EC has a constitutional duty to ensure this purity. He emphasized that while Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) can conduct inquiries into citizenship for electoral purposes, their findings do not automatically lead to a declaration of non-citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955, or initiate deportation proceedings, which fall under the Centre's domain. The clarification comes amid significant public apprehension and petitions contending that the SIR resembles an 'indirect NRC' (National Register of Citizens), potentially leading to the disenfranchisement of legitimate voters. Concerns were exacerbated by reports of millions of names being deleted from draft electoral rolls across several states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where large-scale deletions raised questions about the process's transparency and fairness. The Supreme Court has been actively questioning the EC on various aspects, including whether an ERO's decision could be used by the Centre for investigations into an individual's right to remain in India or face deportation. The EC's assurance aims to allay fears that exclusion from voter rolls under SIR would automatically impact a person's citizenship status or lead to deportation. Arguments in the matter are ongoing, highlighting the delicate balance between ensuring electoral integrity and protecting the rights and dignity of citizens.