Petitions Against SIR In Tamil Nadu & West Bengal : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing

 Counsels suggest different dates for next hearing

Sibal: 25th (Constitution Day) would be an auspicious day for us

Dwivedi: 2 weeks would conclude exactly on 25th

Matter listed on November 26.

IA by AIADMK supporting SIR mentioned

Counsel: It's odd that the ruling party in TN is saying there is no connectivity

Bench says better course would be for AIADMK application to be dismissed, so it can file separate writ petition

Counsel: But we are supporting SIR. Not challenging SIR order.

Order: Since this Court is seized of the matter pertaining to legality of SIR of electoral rolls in various states including Bihar, WB, TN, Pondicherry, etc., we request jurisdictional HCs to keep in abeyance/defer the writ proceedings if any filed in those HCs touching the validity of SIR in their states.

J Kant: If you find this order causes prejudice to anyone, let us know.

J Kant: We are granting 2 weeks' time for counter. We will continue hearing of legal issues. On factual and semi-factual issues, they will verify and respond

Dwivedi: There's 1 request. Some people are filing petitions challenging SIR in High Courts. HCs may not entertain. They may come here. There are 12 states undertaking this exercise

Bench asks HCs to keep matters before them in abeyance.

J Kant: You (petitioners) are trying to convey as if for the first time in this country electoral rolls are being prepared. A constitutional authority is doing this. Anybody can comment deficiencies. Point out, they will rectify

Sibal: Earlier this was done in 3 years. Now how can it be done in 1 month?

Bench issues notice on all fresh 6 petitions

Order: Issue notice. ECI accepts

Dwivedi: There are 6 petitions

J Kant: 6!?

Dwivedi: There's an IA of AIADMK

Sibal: WB is much worse. There is no connectivity (4G/5G) in rural areas

Sibal: There are real problems on ground. What electoral roll of Bihar has to do with Tamil Nadu SIR? Political parties apprehend that ineligible voters may be added by this. THIS WILL DESTROY THE VERY...WHY THIS GREAT HURRY?

J Kant: Everybody wants a status quo

Sibal: I don't. This is not adversarial. But what we are seeing down the road is like that. We give suggestions, there is resistance

J Kant: Give a copy of your petition to them

Sibal: Also, there's departure from the SIR

J Kant: So 1 deficiency they have rectified

Sibal: There are areas where there is no connectivity at all. There's no 5G, what's the point of uploading then. No timelines set out, no format of notice to be issued. How should documents be submitted

J Kant: Why you people are so apprehensive? They will have to do it

Sibal: Process has started on Nov 4. It will end in 1 month. When will notice be issued? Earlier, notice was given During process. Now they have changed that.

Hearing begins

Sibal: I am appearing for Bharathi against Tamil Nadu SIR. If you have an exercise like this, which applies to all states...

Dwivedi: Not served on us

J Kant: We have not issued notice yet

Sibal: Situation in different states is different. Somewhere there are festivals, floods...education is better...I have prepared a note, let me hand over. It's (rainfall) not a uniform thing that happens across the country. In TN, there's harvest season, Christmas vacation. Many people won't be there.