New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and 10 INDIA bloc leaders have filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and raising concerns over alleged electoral irregularities.
Gandhi was unable to reach the Supreme Court to file the petition in person. His advocate, S Prasanna, filed it on his behalf, naming the ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as respondents.
The petition questions what it describes as the “unilateral and arbitrary exercise” of the Election Commission’s collective powers by the Chief Election Commissioner during the ongoing SIR exercise. It also raises concerns about electoral transparency and the constitutional rights of eligible citizens to register as voters and exercise their franchise.
The INDIA bloc has sought a series of directions from the court, including a halt to the ongoing revision exercise, disclosure of official records and an independent audit of changes made to electoral rolls.
INDIA Bloc’s 10 Key Demands Before the Supreme Court
1. Suspend the ongoing SIR exercise
The petition seeks an order directing the Election Commission to suspend the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across states until the issues raised in the case are examined and decided. The stated objective is to safeguard eligible voters’ rights and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
2. Disclose SIR records and digital access logs
The petition seeks disclosure of complete files, agendas, meeting minutes, official notings and objections relating to disputed SIR decisions. It also asks the commission to submit relevant access logs for ECINET and ERONET, along with the complete file concerning the decision dated June 24, 2025, to initiate the SIR exercise nationwide. The petition invokes Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution, read with Article 324, in support of its demands.
3. Review the legality of SIR decisions
The petition seeks judicial scrutiny of the disputed decisions to determine whether they comply with Article 324 of the Constitution, Section 18 of the 2023 law governing election commissioners, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in T.N. Seshan v. Union of India. It further seeks the quashing or setting aside of any decisions found to be unlawful.
4. Take action against those responsible for violations
The petition seeks action against individuals found responsible for violating constitutional or statutory provisions governing the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. It specifically refers to Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
5. Ensure proper recording of Election Commission decisions
The INDIA bloc has sought directions requiring the Election Commission to ensure that every decision concerning the SIR is taken in accordance with the applicable law and properly recorded in the official minutes, as required under Section 18 of the 2023 Act.
6. Ensure Form 6 follows prescribed rules
The petition asks the court to direct the commission to ensure that the online Form 6, used for the inclusion of names in electoral rolls, conforms to the format prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. It argues that the prescribed format should be followed unless the rules are lawfully amended through the applicable procedure.
7. Set up an independent committee to audit voter deletions
One of the key demands is the formation of an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, with technical experts and other eminent citizens as members. The proposed committee would audit voter deletions and modifications carried out during the SIR, as well as access to and changes made in electoral-roll databases, including ECINET and ERONET. The petition also calls for a review of decisions, policies, procedures and technical systems relating to Electronic Voting Machines, in line with global best practices for ensuring free and fair elections.
8. Publish booth-wise lists of deleted voters
The petition seeks the publication of booth-wise lists of all voters whose names have been deleted during the SIR, along with the reasons for each deletion. It also calls for age-wise and gender-wise details and an effective mechanism to restore the names of eligible voters who have been wrongly excluded from electoral rolls.
9. Give voters notice before deleting their names
The INDIA bloc has sought directions that no voter’s name be removed from electoral rolls without prior notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard in accordance with the law. The petition also seeks to ensure that eligible citizens in Punjab and other poll-bound states are allowed to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls until the last date permitted under the law.
10. Pass further orders to protect voting rights
The petition asks the Supreme Court to grant any other relief it considers appropriate to protect the integrity of the electoral process and uphold the right of every eligible citizen to vote.
Focus on Transparency and Voter Rights
The petition places voter-list transparency, accountability in the SIR process and safeguards against wrongful deletion of names at the centre of the INDIA bloc’s challenge. Its demands include access to official records, independent scrutiny of electoral databases, disclosure of deleted voters’ details and an opportunity for eligible citizens to restore their names to the rolls.
The matter seeks judicial examination of the concerns raised by the petitioners and the legality of the disputed decisions taken during the electoral-roll revision process. The demands listed above are prayers made in the petition and should not be interpreted as directions already issued by the Supreme Court.
