The INDIA bloc has asked the Supreme Court to suspend the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, prevent voter deletions without a hearing and order an independent audit of changes made to voter lists.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and 10 other INDIA bloc leaders filed a petition against the Election Commission of India (ECI), challenging the way it made decisions related to the revision exercise. The plea also seeks the disclosure of internal records and greater transparency in decisions affecting electoral rolls.

The petition was filed as Opposition leaders arrived at the Supreme Court after marching through central Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge confirmed the filing, while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said the Opposition was fighting to save democracy.

What are the INDIA bloc’s demands?

The petition seeks the following directions from the Supreme Court:

1. Suspend the ongoing SIR

The Opposition has asked the court to suspend the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process until it decides the case.

2. No voter deletion without notice or hearing

The petition seeks a direction that no elector should be removed from the electoral roll without prior notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard in accordance with the law.

3. Publish details of deleted voters

The INDIA bloc wants the ECI to publish booth-wise lists of deleted electors, along with the reasons for their removal and demographic details.

4. Disclose internal records and decision-making details

The plea seeks the Election Commission’s complete files, agendas, minutes, internal notings and objections relating to disputed decisions, including the June 24, 2025, decision to begin the SIR.

5. Order an independent audit of voter-list changes

The petition asks for an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit deletions and modifications in electoral-roll databases, including ECINET and ERONET.

6. Ensure all SIR decisions are properly recorded

The Opposition wants the court to direct the ECI to ensure that every decision relating to the SIR is taken and duly minuted in accordance with the 2023 law governing the Election Commission.

Why has the INDIA bloc approached the Supreme Court?

The petition challenges the manner in which the Election Commission made decisions concerning the SIR exercise. It asks the court to examine whether those decisions comply with Article 324 of the Constitution, the 2023 law governing the Commission and the Supreme Court’s ruling in T.N. Seshan vs Union of India.

The plea names Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with the Election Commission of India.

Who are the petitioners?

The 11 petitioners are Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) MP MA Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Majhi, NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule and Indian Union Muslim League leader Mohammed Basheer.

The march to the Supreme Court was joined by several Opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Tejashwi Yadav and Supriya Sule.

With ANI inputs