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The Supreme Court will hear today the petitions filed by Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA Bloc leaders questioning the functioning of the Election Commission of India over the decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision. The petitioners also seek the interim suspension of the SIR process going on in certain States.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matters.

Apart from Congress leaders Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress-Mamata Banerjee), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT), MA Baby (CPI(M)), D Raja (CPI), Mahua Majhi (JMM), Supriya Sule (NCP Sharad Pawar) and ET Muhammed Basheer (IUML), Thol Thiruvamavalavan (VCK), Sajjat Ahmad Kichloo (J&K NC) are the petitioners

Reliefs sought

The petition seeks the production of records relating to the SIR exercise, judicial scrutiny of the decision-making process, and directions to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral laws. The key prayers include:

- Disclosure of files, minutes, notings and objections recorded by Election Commissioners on disputed SIR decisions, along with ECINET and ERONET access logs.

- Production of the complete file relating to the ECI's June 24, 2025 decision to launch the SIR.

- Examination of whether the decisions complied with Article 324 of the Constitution, Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and the principles laid down in the T.N. Seshan judgment. The petition seeks quashing of decisions taken without lawful authority.

- Appropriate action against those responsible for breaches, including under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

- A direction that every SIR-related decision be taken collectively and duly minuted in accordance with Section 18 of the 2023 Act while the case remains pending.

- A direction to ensure that the online Form 6 conforms to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, unless the Rules are amended.

- Constitution of a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit SIR deletions and access to electoral-roll databases, and review EVM processes against global best practices.

- Booth-wise publication of deleted voters' names, along with reasons for deletion and age- and gender-wise breakdowns, as well as a functional mechanism for restoration of names.

- A direction that no voter's name be deleted without notice and an opportunity of hearing. The petition also seeks to allow eligible persons in Punjab and other poll-bound States to apply for inclusion until the last date for such applications.

- Suspension of the SIR exercise across all States pending adjudication of the petition.

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