The Supreme Court on Thursday, October 15, issued notice to the Election Commission of India on a petition filed by 11 INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The same bench also questioned the Opposition’s October 12 march to the court, observing that “nobody can browbeat judiciary”.
Here is what happened in court and what the case is about.
What is SIR?
Special Intensive Revision is a fresh, house-to-house check of voter lists carried out by the Election Commission. Names are verified, added or removed before elections. Opposition parties allege irregularities in the process. The Election Commission has defended it.
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Who filed the petition?
The petition was filed on October 12 through senior advocate S. Prasanna. The 11 petitioners are:
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Congress)
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party)
- Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD)
- Saugata Roy (TMC)
- Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT)
- M. A. Baby (CPI-M)
- D. Raja (CPI)
- Mahua Manjhi (JMM)
- Supriya Sule (NCP-SP)
- E. T. Mohammed Basheer (IUML)
What the petitioners want
- An independent committee to examine how the Election Commission took decisions on SIR
- A comprehensive review of online voter registration systems, including the ECINet portal
- A direction to the Election Commission to produce its official records and internal notings on the process
What the Supreme Court ordered
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The court said the petition will be heard along with similar pending cases.
Court questions the October 12 march
Before filing the petition, the INDIA bloc leaders held a “Loktantra March” in New Delhi towards the Supreme Court. On a separate plea over this march, the court issued notice to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others.
“We would also ask one of the petitioners about his conduct,” the bench said, without naming anyone. It added, “Nobody can browbeat judiciary,” and, “We are not sitting in ivory towers.”
No response from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress to the court’s remarks had been reported at the time of writing.
Also in court: the Delhi Metro shutdown case
In a separate contempt matter, the court took up the alleged violation of its direction against a complete shutdown of Delhi Metro and train services during the October 10 protest by the Cockroach Janta Party. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan tendered an unconditional apology. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said an apology does not stop authorities from defending their actions.
The court also agreed to examine a plea challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
What happens next
The Election Commission and the CEC will now file their replies. The SIR plea will be heard with other pending petitions on the issue, and the court will separately take up the plea over the October 12 march.
Frequently asked questions
What is SIR?
SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision. It is a fresh, house-to-house verification of electoral rolls carried out by the Election Commission, in which names are checked, added or removed.
Who filed the plea against SIR in the Supreme Court?
Eleven INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Saugata Roy, Sanjay Raut, M. A. Baby, D. Raja, Mahua Manjhi, Supriya Sule and E. T. Mohammed Basheer.
What did the Supreme Court order on October 15?
A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Election Commission, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The plea will be heard with similar pending cases.
What did the Supreme Court say about Rahul Gandhi’s march?
The court issued notice on a separate plea over the October 12 march to the Supreme Court and said it would ask one of the petitioners about his conduct. The bench observed, “Nobody can browbeat judiciary.”
What is the next hearing date?
The next date of hearing had not been reported at the time of writing.
Sources: Siasat.com, Hindusthan Samachar. Photo: Supreme Court of India (file photo).
