Supreme Court Seeks Response from Election Commission on Voter Roll Irregularities
Supreme Court Addresses Voter Deletion Allegations
File image of Rahul Gandhi atop police barricades after being stopped by security personnel during a protest march. (Photo:PTI)
New Delhi, Oct 15: On Thursday, the Supreme Court requested responses from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and its senior officials regarding a petition submitted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures. The petition raises concerns about extensive voter deletions and irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the election body, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
“We are issuing notice ... tagging with pending cases. However, we would like to inquire about one of the petitioners' conduct,” the bench remarked.
During the proceedings, attorneys highlighted the opposition leaders' march to the Supreme Court on Monday to file their petition contesting the electoral roll revision.
The court also directed notices to Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and others regarding a separate plea related to their march to the Supreme Court concerning alleged SIR irregularities, emphasizing that no one could intimidate the judiciary.
“Nobody can browbeat the judiciary. We are not sitting in ivory towers,” the bench stated.
The hearing also addressed a separate contempt issue regarding restrictions placed during a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the unconditional apology offered by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan in the contempt case, asserting that such an apology does not prevent the authorities from defending their actions, as it is part of the legal process.
The bench informed Mehta that it was not considering media reports about authorities offering unconditional apologies before the court.
This contempt case involves claims that authorities breached the Supreme Court’s orders to ensure that Metro and train services in Delhi were not entirely halted during the protest on October 10.
Additionally, the apex court issued notices to the Centre and other parties regarding petitions related to the Election Commission, including those filed by leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi.
The court also agreed to review a petition challenging the Delhi Police's decision to remove Jantar Mantar as an approved protest site.
Gandhi and several other opposition leaders had marched towards the Supreme Court on Monday to present their petition regarding alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
Delhi has seen numerous protests calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to the alleged irregularities.