Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and ten other Opposition leaders have approached the Supreme Court challenging alleged large-scale deletions from electoral rolls and irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The petition also seeks action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, escalating the legal challenge to the poll panel’s handling of the voter-list revision process.
The writ petition has been filed jointly by leaders representing various parties in the INDIA bloc, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Majhi, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule and Indian Union Muslim League leader Mohammed Basheer.
The legal recourse follows concerns raised by Opposition parties over the conduct of the SIR exercise, which they contend has resulted in the exclusion of eligible voters and raised questions about the transparency and functioning of the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.
The move also comes after Rahul Gandhi sought an appointment with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to submit a representation concerning the SIR exercise, the Election Commission’s functioning and the police response to protests against the revision process.
The Chief Justice declined the request, observing that related matters were already pending consideration before the Supreme Court. He indicated that the Opposition leaders could pursue the appropriate legal remedy by filing a petition, which could be considered alongside the existing cases.
Related petitions concerning alleged irregularities in the SIR process and demands for action against the Chief Election Commissioner are already before the apex court. Some of these proceedings have raised questions about the legality of decisions taken during the revision exercise, including allegations of procedural lapses and concerns over the administration of electoral rolls.
The latest petition brings together political leaders from several Opposition parties in a common legal challenge to the process. Its filing coincides with demonstrations by INDIA bloc leaders and supporters in Delhi, where protesters sought to march towards the Supreme Court to register their objections to the functioning of the Election Commission and the alleged deletion of voters’ names.
The dispute places the SIR exercise and the Election Commission’s constitutional responsibilities under renewed judicial scrutiny, with the petitioners seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter.
The matter is expected to be considered in the context of other pending proceedings concerning the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The post Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc leaders move Supreme Court over alleged voter deletions during SIR, seek CEC’s removal appeared first on India Legal.