SC to hear Kerala plea to defer SIR, sends ECI notice

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear next week, the Kerala government's plea to defer the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state next week and issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and others on fresh petitions challenging the SIR in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Puducherry.

- Abraham Thomas

A bench headed by justice Surya Kant, who is Chief Justice of India (CJI) designate, posted the matter related to Kerala as the state cited urgency citing the local body elections that will overlap with the SIR exercise, leading to an “administrative impasse”.

“The cause you have taken has not been taken by other states,” the bench told Kerala government, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal who pointed out that “local body elections are scheduled on December 9 and 11.”

Sibal said the pending SIR matters related to Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are listed for November 26 and 27. The court directed the Kerala state’s petition to be heard on that date.