The Supreme Court has formally issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) following a petition from the Kerala government. The state is seeking an immediate postponement of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Court Proceedings and Key Arguments
A three-judge bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, S V N Bhatti, and Joymalya Bagchi, presided over the hearing. The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 26, acknowledging the urgency of the matter. Representing the Kerala government, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal presented the state's case. He emphasized the critical timing conflict, informing the court that local body polls in Kerala are scheduled for December 9 and 11, with the results set to be declared on December 13.
The state's central argument is that the SIR exercise should be deferred until after the conclusion of these local elections to avoid any potential disruption or confusion in the electoral process.
Wide-Ranging Political Support for the Petition
The Supreme Court's notice was not limited to the Kerala government's plea. The bench also issued notices on separate but related petitions filed by several prominent political leaders and parties. These petitioners include CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan Master, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, IUML general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, and KPCC president Sunny Joseph.
Notably, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has gone a step further in its petition, requesting the court to quash the SIR notification entirely. This legal challenge in Kerala is part of a larger national issue, as the Supreme Court is already handling similar petitions questioning the SIR process in other states, including Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Underlying Tensions and National Context
The situation is compounded by reports of significant strain on the ground. The revision process in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan has been clouded by the tragic deaths of three Booth Level Officers (BLOs). These incidents have occurred amid numerous complaints from officials about excessive workload and unreasonable demands and targets set during the SIR, threatening to disrupt the entire exercise.
The Supreme Court had previously taken cognizance of the issue in other states, having issued a notice to the ECI on November 11 concerning petitions from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The upcoming hearing on November 26 is now poised to be a crucial moment for the electoral process in multiple Indian states.
