Mumbai, October 5: Opposition parties in Maharashtra on Monday rallied behind Supreme Court Judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan’s remarks on disenfranchisement in the context of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that constitutional rights were being “trampled upon and disrespected”.

Justice Bhuyan, delivering the valedictory address at the 19th Justice Bodh Raj Sawhney Memorial Moot Court Competition at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad on Sunday, said any process that “disenfranchises” millions of Indian citizens was “intrinsically arbitrary” and amounted to a “negation” of the constitutional order.

He emphasised that the Constitution does not envisage two classes of citizens — one with voting rights and another without them — and asserted that no amount of “whataboutery” could justify such a process.

Opposition leaders in Maharashtra cited the remarks to intensify their criticism of the SIR exercise, arguing that the revision of electoral rolls should not result in genuine voters being excluded from the democratic process.

The parties maintained that the right to vote is central to democratic participation and urged the authorities to ensure that the electoral-roll revision process remains transparent, inclusive and in accordance with constitutional principles.