New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to list a petition challenging the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra along with the plea filed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Election Commission of India’s controversial exercise, saying it will hear the matter state-wise.
“The problem is that there cannot be a generalised challenge to SIR.
We have to look at it state-wise,” said Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, after senior advocate Arvind Datar mentioned the plea challenging SIR process in Maharashtra before the court.
The apex court, however, refused to accept this suggestion as well. The senior advocate — who mentioned the petition filed by one Arun Anandagiri, a chartered accountant and journalist — urged the court to issue notice in order for ECI, Centre and the Maharashtra government to file a response by October 26, when the court is expected to take up the matter. The plea alleges that CEC Gyanesh Kumar took several decisions unilaterally, raising questions about compliance with Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which provides for decision-making by majority in the event of a disagreement among the commissioners.
Stating that the matter was shown as listed for October 26, Datar urged the court if it could be taken up along with the petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders seeking an independent, timebound inquiry into alleged electoral irregularities and the functioning of ECI, and an interim suspension of the ongoing SIR pending the inquiry.
