End of SIR Does Not Mean Freezing of Voters' List, Supreme Court Clarifies

The Supreme Court clarified on Friday that the completion of a special intensive revision (SIR) does not freeze the electoral rolls, addressing concerns that names removed from draft rolls cannot be restored and individuals might permanently lose their right to vote.

Court Proceedings and Bench Observations

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard petitions challenging the SIR process in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh. During the proceedings, the bench declined to extend the deadline, stating that no extension was required because the inclusion of voters' names is a continuous process.

Senior advocate D S Naidu submitted that citizens can apply for inclusion even after the SIR concludes, noting that additions remain possible until election nominations are filed.

Election Commission Submissions and Allegations

• Uttar Pradesh: The Election Commission (EC) acknowledged lapses by officials in Uttar Pradesh regarding the acceptance of bulk Form 7 applications. The EC stated that corrective measures were implemented and disciplinary action was initiated against the responsible officials. The Supreme Court permitted the petitioner to highlight specific discrepancies directly to the EC.
• Kerala: The EC reported that the SIR in Kerala was completed in February, and the subsequent assembly elections utilized the rolls prepared following that revision. Conversely, the CPM, represented by advocate G Prakash, alleged that 24 lakh voters remained excluded.

The Supreme Court directed the CPM to furnish details regarding voters who reportedly could not submit enumeration forms due to insufficient time, allowing the EC to review those cases and undertake remedial steps.

Additional Petitions and Directives

Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, representing another petitioner, alleged large-scale voter deletions during the Kerala SIR and requested a comprehensive affidavit from the EC despite the completion of the exercise. The top court instructed the EC to file a response addressing both the petition and Ramachandran's note.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Voters retain the opportunity to apply for name inclusions up until the filing of nominations for an upcoming election.
• Affected individuals or political representatives can verify voter list status and raise specific discrepancies through official Election Commission channels or designated local election offices.