'Can extend SIR draft roll deadline if needed'

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it has the power to extend the date for publication of draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) if the petitioners are able to make out a case. The observation from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant came as parties in the West Bengal matter expressed concern that the case was being posted to December 9, the same day the draft roll is scheduled to be published. “So what? If you make out a case, then we can direct them to extend the date. Can that date be a ground for the Court to say that we don't have any power now? Court can always say,” the CJI remarked.

- FPJ News Service

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is hearing a batch of petitions filed by several States and political parties challenging the conduct of the SIR of electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The petitioners have argued that the ECI has no power under the Representation of the People Act to revise in the manner being done, and have raised concerns about haste, burden on electors, and possible exclusions.

For West Bengal, the Court directed the ECI to file its counter-affidavit over the weekend, along with replies to two newly filed intervention applications. The matter will now be heard on December 9, with the West Bengal State Election Commission also permitted to file its reply by December 1.

In the Kerala petitions, the ECI opposed pleas to defer the SIR, telling the Court that 99% of voters have already been supplied the enumeration forms and over 50% of the forms have been digitised.