New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) response to a plea alleging large-scale deletion of voters from Maharashtra’s electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, while declining to immediately extend the deadline for filing claims and objections.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notice to the ECI on a petition filed by Arun Anandagiri, who alleged that 33% of voters had been deleted from the state’s electoral rolls during the SIR exercise.

The court, however, did not grant the petitioner’s request to extend the deadline on Monday. The bench said it would consider extending the date if, after hearing the matter, it found that more time was required.

The case is scheduled to be heard next on November 5.
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Petitioner alleges voter deletions

Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for Anandagiri, raised concerns over voters being left out of the rolls because of changes in their addresses and other details.

He told the court that around 3,500 redevelopment projects were underway in Mumbai and Pune, with old housing societies being demolished and thousands of residents being relocated.

According to the petitioner, such displacement could put voters at risk of losing their names from the electoral rolls if their current address or other details could not be matched during the revision process.

Datar also questioned the use of Form 6 for voters who were already enrolled in previous elections.

He argued that Form 6 is meant for registering new voters and that existing voters should not be required to use the same form to retain their names on the electoral rolls.

The petitioner sought a separate form or process for voters whose names had already appeared on earlier electoral rolls.
Form 6 is the Election Commission of India’s application for inclusion in the electoral roll, generally used by first-time voters. During SIR, it has also been offered to voters whose names were left out of draft rolls, including those who moved from their previous addresses. This has raised questions over asking existing voters to seek fresh enrolment instead of updating their existing entries.
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Court leaves door open on deadline extension

The petitioner had sought an extension of Monday’s deadline for filing claims and objections, as well as a stay on the finalisation of the electoral rolls until the court considered the matter.

The bench declined to grant an immediate extension but indicated that it could issue directions later if it found that additional time was necessary.

The Chief Justice also assured the petitioner that the court could extend the deadline if it found that people had been unable to submit the required documents.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on November 5.