In a series of developments concerning the electoral rolls, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear separate petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, as well as a petition questioning the constitutional validity of the pan-India SIR. The court has asked for responses from the Election Commission (EC), state ECs, and state governments in these cases.
The current context involves the simultaneous conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and local body elections in Kerala by the Election Commission (EC) under close supervision of the Kerala State Election Commission, as per senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi.
The Supreme Court will hear each challenge on separate dates. For the petitions challenging the SIR in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, the court has postponed the hearing, while it has scheduled the hearing for the petition questioning the constitutional validity of the pan-India SIR at a later date.
The developments come as part of an ongoing discussion on the electoral rolls, with various parties presenting their arguments in front of the Supreme Court. The court’s decision to hear these petitions separately indicates its intent to address each challenge meticulously.
The Election Commission and the state ECs have been asked to respond to the petitions challenging the SIR in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The responses will play a crucial role in the court’s decision-making process for these cases.
The Supreme Court’s deliberations on the electoral roll revisions are taking place amidst growing debate over the accuracy and inclusivity of the voter lists across various states. As this story unfolds, it will be interesting to observe how the court navigates these complex issues and what impact its decisions might have on the electoral process in India.
