The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition filed by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and nine other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. During the hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that one of the petitioners would have to explain his conduct following the Opposition leaders’ visit to the court premises earlier this week.
A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
While issuing the notice, the CJI orally observed, "We would also ask one of the petitioners about his conduct."
Opposition leaders’ march led to commotion
The petition follows a march led by Gandhi and other Opposition leaders towards the Supreme Court on October 12, ahead of the filing. Their arrival drew a large crowd to the court premises, resulting in commotion within the precincts.
The original plan was for Gandhi to present the petition himself. However, with the Supreme Court Registry nearing its closing time, the plea was filed through lawyers. The leaders subsequently visited the registry, leading to a further gathering.
Besides Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the petitioners include Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress, Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of the RJD, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), MA Baby of the CPI(M), D Raja of the CPI, Mahua Majhi of the JMM, Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and ET Muhammed Basheer of the IUML. VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan and NC MP Sajjat Ahmad Kichloo later joined the plea.
Petition seeks suspension of SIR exercise
The Opposition leaders have sought judicial scrutiny of the ECI’s decision-making process and access to records related to the revision exercise. Their demands include the production of the complete file concerning the June 24, 2025, decision to initiate the SIR.
The petition also seeks a review of whether the exercise complies with constitutional provisions and electoral laws, along with a direction that SIR-related decisions be taken collectively and properly recorded.
Other prayers include publishing booth-wise details of deleted voters, providing reasons for deletions, ensuring that no voter’s name is removed without notice and an opportunity to be heard, and setting up a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit deletions.
The leaders have also sought the suspension of the SIR exercise across states until the case is decided. The petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record S Prasanna.
Other pleas against SIR also before the court
The challenge comes amid Opposition protests over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Supreme Court has also issued notice on a plea filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and another petition filed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. Related matters concerning the SIR exercise are scheduled for hearing, with the court having indicated that the Opposition leaders’ plea could be considered alongside pending cases.
Earlier, the CJI had declined a request from Gandhi and Kharge for an appointment to discuss concerns over the SIR process and the functioning of the Election Commission, noting that the issues were already pending before the court.