The Government of Kerala has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking a postponement of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being carried out by the Election Commission of India. The State requests that this revision be deferred until after the upcoming elections to the local self government institutions.
In its petition filed under Article 32, Kerala argues that conducting the revision at the same time as the local body election process will create significant administrative strain and may affect the smooth conduct of the elections. The State clarifies that this request is only for temporary deferment and that it reserves the right to challenge the revision on other grounds later.
The petition highlights that Kerala has 1,200 local self government institutions, including 941 gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 87 municipalities, and six corporations. Together they contain 23,612 wards. The local body elections are scheduled for December 9 and 11. The revision process began on November 4 and the draft rolls are expected on December 4, leaving only a month for completion.
Under Articles 243 (E) and 243 (U) of the Constitution, as well as Section 38 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and Section 94 of the Kerala Municipality Act, elections must be held within five years of the first meeting of the outgoing councils. Members of the newly elected bodies must assume office by December 21.
Kerala submits that beginning the revision at this moment could create an administrative deadlock and might hinder the timely conduct of elections. It notes that the local body elections alone require 176,000 personnel and 68,000 security personnel, whereas the revision requires an additional 25,668 staff members. The State contends that meeting both demands together would severely disrupt normal administration.
The Chief Secretary of Kerala wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner on November 5 requesting deferment of the revision, but no reply has been received.
The State also argues that, unlike the constitutionally mandated schedule for local body elections, there is no urgent statutory requirement that the revision be conducted at this particular time. It points out that the Election Commission of India has not given any specific reason for undertaking a special revision in any constituency in the State. Therefore, postponing it until after the elections would not cause any prejudice.
Kerala had earlier approached the Kerala High Court seeking a postponement, but the High Court declined to interfere and directed the State to seek relief from the Supreme Court, which is already considering matters related to the revision.
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