SC Issues Notice to ECI on Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc Leaders’ Plea Against SIR; Flags Petitioner’s Conduct

New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition filed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while orally raising concerns over the conduct of one of the petitioners.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice orally remarked, “We would also ask one of the petitioners about his conduct.”

The observation came in the wake of an incident on October 12, when Gandhi, along with Congress and other Opposition leaders, led a march towards the Supreme Court, triggering a large gathering and commotion within the court premises.

Although Gandhi was initially expected to submit the petition personally, it was filed through lawyers as the Supreme Court Registry was nearing its closing time. The leaders later visited the Registry, resulting in further crowding in the court precincts.

The petitioners include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress, Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of the RJD, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), MA Baby of the CPI(M), D Raja of the CPI, Mahua Majhi of the JMM, Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and ET Muhammed Basheer of the IUML.

VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan and National Conference MP Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo subsequently joined the petition.

The plea comes amid Opposition protests against the SIR exercise and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

The Supreme Court also issued notice on a separate petition filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi challenging the SIR exercise, as well as another plea filed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

The main petition seeks judicial scrutiny of the SIR process, including the production of records relating to the ECI's June 24, 2025, decision and an examination of compliance with constitutional and statutory provisions.

It calls for collective and documented decision-making under the 2023 Act, correction of online Form 6 and the constitution of a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit voter deletions and electoral-roll databases.

Other key demands include booth-wise publication of deleted voters' names and the reasons for their removal, mandatory notice and hearings before deletion, a mechanism to restore deleted names, extension of enrolment deadlines in poll-bound states and suspension of the SIR exercise nationwide pending the disposal of the case.

Clarify the petitioners’ conduct issueTighten the headline for neutrality