'Why Waste Money?' Karnataka High Court Questions SEC's 'Parallel' Electoral Roll Revision Amid ECI's Ongoing SIR Exercise

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (July 20) questioned the State Election Commission's (SEC) decision to undertake a separate Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in certain wards falling under the Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency when the Election Commission of India (ECI) is already carrying out its nationwide SIR Phase III exercise in Karnataka.

A single-judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj, hearing a petition filed by five residents of the Mahadevapura constituency, directed the SEC and the State Government to obtain instructions and posted the matter for further hearing on August 3.

Questioning the necessity of a parallel exercise, the Court orally observed:

"While ECI is doing it, why do you want to unnecessarily waste money?... Once ECI does it, that should be what will be available for you as well?"

The Court, however, clarified that this observation was based on its prima facie understanding that the ECI alone has the authority to revise electoral rolls.

The SEC informed the Court that the revision exercise had been initiated following complaints relating to the Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency in Bengaluru. However, it submitted that the exercise was progressing slowly as officials were simultaneously engaged in the ECI's ongoing SIR exercise. According to the SEC, it had sought revision only with respect to that constituency.

Justice Govindaraj then enquired about the timeline for completion of the ECI's revision exercise.

Appearing for the ECI, counsel submitted that the final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on October 19, 2026, and that the process remains on track.

The Court also sought to know when the local body elections were likely to be held. The SEC responded that the elections are expected to take place in December 2026.

Explaining its position, counsel for the SEC submitted:

"By December, we will have to complete. Actually, we had published the electoral rolls. The problem is, since they have started, there is a freeze on everything. Any addition I can't do. Suppose somebody becomes a major, I can't do that. Now the Supreme Court has extended time till December. Their SIR will be over by October. Our exercise for this particular constituency, we have taken up... we want to go ahead."

The submission came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's July 17 order directing that elections to Bengaluru's five municipal corporations be held in December 2026, taking note of the ongoing SIR exercise in Karnataka.

When the matter was taken up, the SEC sought an adjournment to consult stakeholders and clarify its stand on the issue.

"Have it next week, milord. Election time has been extended. We want to see whether, irrespective of my power... we are not conceding that we don't have any power, since the main SIR is being undertaken, let me get instructions," counsel for the SEC submitted.

The ECI, meanwhile, informed the Court that the Law Commission, in its 2015 report, had recommended that electoral roll revisions carried out by the ECI should be adopted by the State Election Commissions.

Counsel for the petitioners also argued that the SEC's parallel exercise was impermissible.

"ECI has frozen the list with effect from June 14, 2026. I don't think the State can proceed with this. The SEC adopted the Assembly rolls on June 18, 2026, and now they want to revise them based on tailor-made complaints," he submitted.

The SEC, however, maintained that it possessed independent authority to prepare electoral rolls.

"I can prepare my own roll; ECI cannot say that I can't. I can also adopt the rolls for my own sake... Under the GBA Act, I have the power to adopt," its counsel argued.

At this stage, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty questioned the maintainability of the petition filed by private individuals, contending that the issue ought to have been raised in a public interest petition.

"This has to be a PIL; their private rights are not affected," he submitted.

The Court ultimately granted ten days to the State Government and the SEC to obtain instructions.

Background

On July 8, the Karnataka High Court issued notice on a plea challenging the State Election Commission's June 19 order directing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for 24 wards falling under the Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency in the Greater Bengaluru Authority area.

Case Title: Mr. Vivek M & Ors. v. The Karnataka State Election Commission & Ors.

Case No: WP 20631/2026