Samajwadi Party's Arvind Kumar Singh Moves Supreme Court Against SIR In Uttar Pradesh; Seeks 3-Month Extension Of Timelines

Samajwadi Party leader Arvind Kumar Singh has moved the Supreme Court challenging special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh.

Besides seeking quashing of the Election Commission's notification, Singh prays for a 3-month extension of the timelines prescribed for Enumeration, Updation of Control Table and Draft Roll and Final Publication of Electoral Roll.

It may be recalled that a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is dealing with the SIR cases. Besides the Samajwadi Party leader, other political parties like DMK, actor Vijay's TVK, CPI(M), UP Congress Committee, TMC and/or their leaders are also before the Court challenging SIR in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, etc.

Notice was recently issued on a plea filed by Tanuj Punia, a Lok Sabha MP from Barabanki and Chairman of Scheduled Caste Department of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, challenging SIR in Uttar Pradesh.

Now, SP leader Arvind Kumar Singh has filed a petition challenging the SIR. It seeks quashing of Election Commission's October 27 notification and all other consequential orders/directions as violative of Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the RP Act and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. These orders include an order passed by the CEO, UP notifying all Presidents/Ministers of national and regional political parties about the SIR exercise.

The petitioner further seeks a direction to the ECI to ensure that the process of linking Aadhaar cards with EPIC cards is undertaken and comprehensively concluded.

It is his contention that the SIR notification and orders are arbitrary and cause significant damage to innocent electorate in the state. He further argues that the SIR order disenfranchises lakhs of voters from electing their representatives.

Case Title: Arvind Kumar Singh v. Election Commission of India