New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted petitioners 10 days to respond to the Election Commission of India’s affidavit defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court also issued notices to the poll panel and other respondents on a fresh petition alleging that changes were made to Form 6 during the Bihar SIR without the Supreme Court’s approval.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took up the matter after the Election Commission filed its 248-page response late Monday evening.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the first petitioner, Rakesh Kumar Singh, was asked to file a rejoinder within 10 days. The Bench said it would examine the issues raised in the proceedings.
Fresh Plea Challenges Changes To Form 6
The court also issued notices on a petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, who alleged that changes had been made to Form 6 during the Bihar voter roll revision without the court’s approval.
Senior advocate and MP Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for Sen, told the Bench that the Election Commission had incorrectly claimed that the changes to the form had been approved by the Supreme Court.
The notice allows the poll panel and other respondents to respond to the allegations. The court has not yet ruled on the merits of the fresh plea.
Election Commission Defends SIR
In its affidavit, the Election Commission strongly defended the Special Intensive Revision, maintaining that the exercise was authorised by law. It said the relevant orders had been approved unanimously by all three members of the poll panel.
The Commission also rejected the allegation that the statutory Form 6, used for voter registration, had been amended. It maintained that no changes had been made to the prescribed form and described the allegations against the institution as unfortunate.
The affidavit was filed by Deputy Election Commissioner Bhanu Prakash Yeturu on behalf of the Commission. The poll panel also said that the decision to file the response had received unanimous approval from its three members.
Dispute Over Decision-Making Within The Poll Panel
The proceedings follow a report published by The Indian Express on September 25. The report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over the preceding 10 months to decisions and orders relating to the SIR, alleging that they had been issued without their knowledge or recommendation.
The report triggered criticism from opposition parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.
The Supreme Court’s latest directions give the petitioners time to respond to the Election Commission’s affidavit, while the fresh plea concerning Form 6 moves forward. The court is yet to deliver a final ruling on the issues raised in the petitions.
