Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 27: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted 10 days to petitioners seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to respond to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) affidavit defending the exercise.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also issued notice to the poll body on all the petitions, including one filed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders seeking Kumar’s suspension. The matter is expected to be listed for further hearing on November 17.
The development comes a day after the Election Commission filed a 248-page counter affidavit defending the nationwide SIR exercise and maintaining that all decisions concerning the revision were taken unanimously by the three members of the Commission. It also rejected allegations that Form 6, used for voter registration, had been altered.
Describing the allegations as “misconceived”, the Commission sought summary dismissal of the petitions. According to its affidavit, the SIR orders dated June 24, 2025, October 27, 2025, and May 14, 2026, were unanimously approved in accordance 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.
The poll body stated that suggestions, observations or queries raised by a commissioner while a file is being processed do not constitute a decision of the Commission. It explained that files are first examined by one election commissioner, then by the other, and finally by the CEC. Approved decisions carry the signatures of all three members.
The Commission further said that when urgent orders are required and members are unavailable in person, approval is obtained electronically and subsequently recorded in the file.
The affidavit was filed in response to petitions following a report by The Indian Express alleging differences among members of the Election Commission over the SIR exercise. Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which had earlier sought the poll body's response.
The petitioners have raised concerns over the electoral roll revision and sought action against the CEC, while the Election Commission has defended the process and denied the allegations.