The Supreme Court is set to hear a critical petition from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on November 11, challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) order for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu. A bench presided over by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai acknowledged the urgency, agreeing to list the matter for hearing on Tuesday.
The legal challenge, spearheaded by DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi, questions the constitutional legitimacy of the SIR. The party aims to invalidate the ECI’s October 27 notification that extended the SIR to Tamil Nadu, referencing earlier guidelines issued on June 24. The DMK’s petition specifically targets the ECI’s orders dated June 24 and October 27, which mandated the SIR.
At the heart of the DMK’s argument is the potential for widespread disenfranchisement. The party asserts that the SIR process, as directed by the ECI, could arbitrarily remove lakhs of voters from the electoral rolls without proper procedures. This, they contend, poses a direct threat to the principles of free and fair elections and the fundamental democratic structure of India. The petition argues that these ECI orders contravene key constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326, as well as relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Concerns have been raised regarding the onerous documentation requirements, the lack of a clear due process, and the exceedingly short timeframe allotted for the SIR in Tamil Nadu. The DMK believes these shortcomings will inevitably result in the erroneous deletion of names of numerous genuine voters, leading to their exclusion from the electoral process. It is worth noting that Tamil Nadu had already completed a Special Summary Revision (SSR) between October 2024 and January 6, 2025, which included updates for deaths and migration, and ensured ineligible voters were removed. The updated rolls were published on January 6, 2025, and have undergone continuous revisions since.
The DMK’s legal team argues that the ECI’s directives represent an overreach of constitutional authority. While Article 324 grants the ECI powers related to elections, these powers are meant to complement, not replace, existing legislative frameworks. The party views the ECI’s orders as an attempt to supersede the statutory system already in place for managing electoral rolls. This legal battle unfolds as the ECI proceeds with the second phase of SIR across 12 states and UTs, aiming for a final voter list by February 7, 2026.