New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday, October 15, a petition filed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition raises concerns over alleged irregularities in voter-list revisions and seeks greater transparency in the process.
According to the Supreme Court's cause list, the matter is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The petition has been registered as Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1351 of 2026.
Opposition Seeks Independent Audit of Voter Lists
The petitioners have asked the Supreme Court to examine the Election Commission's decisions related to the SIR exercise. They have sought the production of relevant records and documents to clarify how decisions concerning electoral-roll revisions were taken.
One of their key demands is the formation of an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, with technical experts and other members. The proposed committee would audit deletions and modifications made to electoral rolls during the revision process.
The petitioners have also sought access to records associated with electoral databases, including ECINET and ERONET, to enable an independent examination of changes made to voter lists.
Plea Seeks Interim Stay on SIR Exercise
The opposition leaders have urged the court to consider an interim suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise until the issues raised in their petition are decided. They have also sought safeguards to protect eligible voters from wrongful exclusion from electoral rolls.
The petition calls for scrutiny of the Election Commission's decision-making process and greater accountability in the revision of voter lists. These are requests made by the petitioners; the court has yet to determine the merits of their allegations.
Rahul Gandhi and INDIA Bloc Leaders Move Supreme Court
Rahul Gandhi and several opposition leaders approached the Supreme Court after raising concerns about the SIR process. The petition was filed on October 12 and registered by the court registry on October 13, after procedural objections were addressed.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut are among the opposition figures associated with the legal challenge.
The case comes amid a wider political dispute over the revision of electoral rolls. The Supreme Court hearing is expected to consider the petition at the admission stage; the listing itself does not mean that the court has accepted the allegations or granted the relief sought.
The proceedings could bring judicial scrutiny to the opposition's concerns over voter-list revisions, the transparency of the process and safeguards for eligible voters.