Supreme Court Issues Notice on Plea Challenging Electoral Roll Revision in Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notice on a petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader Arvind Kumar Singh challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently being carried out in Uttar Pradesh. The plea raises serious concerns over the timelines and legality of the revision exercise initiated by the Election Commission of India.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. After hearing submissions from Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the petitioner, the Court sought responses from the concerned authorities.
Apart from seeking the quashing of the Election Commission’s notification initiating the SIR process, Singh has requested a three-month extension of timelines fixed for key stages, including enumeration, updation of control tables, preparation of draft electoral rolls, and final publication.
On the petitioner’s request, the Supreme Court de-tagged the Uttar Pradesh matter from other pending petitions challenging SIR exercises in different states. The Court directed that the Uttar Pradesh-related cases, including a similar plea filed by Congress MP Tanuj Punia, be listed for detailed hearing on December 18.
The SIR exercise has triggered multiple challenges before the apex court. Political parties and leaders from across the spectrum, including the DMK, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by actor Vijay, CPI(M), Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, and the Trinamool Congress, have approached the Court questioning similar electoral roll revision drives in states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala.
In his petition, Singh has specifically challenged the Election Commission’s notification dated October 27 and all consequential directions issued thereafter. He has argued that the SIR process violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, as well as provisions under the Representation of the People Act and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The challenge also extends to an order issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, which formally notified Presidents and Ministers of national and regional political parties about the SIR exercise.
Additionally, Singh has sought directions to ensure that Aadhaar cards are comprehensively linked with EPIC numbers to avoid duplication and wrongful deletions. He has warned that the current SIR process could arbitrarily exclude genuine voters and potentially disenfranchise lakhs of eligible citizens, impacting their constitutional right to vote.
Our Final Thoughts
The Supreme Court’s decision to examine the Uttar Pradesh electoral roll revision separately highlights the sensitivity surrounding voter list exercises ahead of crucial elections. While maintaining accurate electoral rolls is essential for democratic integrity, concerns over timelines, transparency and potential voter exclusion cannot be ignored. The growing number of political parties approaching the apex court suggests widespread apprehension about the implementation of the SIR process. The upcoming hearing will be significant in determining whether procedural safeguards are sufficient to protect voters’ rights while allowing the Election Commission to carry out its constitutional mandate. TheTrendingPeople.com will continue to closely track developments in this case and its broader implications for electoral processes across India.