Full Breakdown
LAFC Forms Five-Judge Commission to Review India’s Electoral Roll Revision
By Drooid · · How we work
Formation of an Independent Inquiry Commission
The Lawyers’ Association for Constitution (LAFC) announced on October 2, 2026 that it has assembled a five-member panel of former Supreme Court and high-court judges to examine the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The commission is chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Madan B. Lokur and includes former judges A. K. Patnaik, Badar Durrez Ahmad, Rekha Sharma, and Anjana Prakash. The panel will deliver a report by December 2026.
Background to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The SIR, launched in summer 2025, is a nationwide exercise to clean voter lists. Critics allege that the process has removed many eligible voters, prompting protests in major cities and the detention of an activist during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 2, 2026.
Scope and Methodology of the Commission
LAFC says the commission will assess the constitutional and statutory validity, the methodology, and the overall impact of the SIR. Its work will include:
- Nationwide public hearings with regional benches recording testimonies from affected citizens, civil-society groups, and experts.
- A research wing that will compile data on additions and deletions from electoral rolls.
- Legal analysis by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Rebecca Mammen John, Vrinda Grover, Raju Ramachandran, Chander Uday Singh, Prashanto Chandra Sen, and Warisha Farasat.
Findings will be presented in the December 2026 report, which LAFC asserts will be free from influence by its sponsoring organisations.
Data on Voter Deletions
LAFC reports that the SIR has excluded over 13 crore voters from draft rolls nationwide, including approximately 5.8 crore in ten states and three Union Territories. The draft rolls now total 817.9 million voters, close to the 2015 electorate size. Final deletion lists have not yet been published.
Official Responses
- LAFC statement – Described the commission as an “independent inquiry” with full autonomy.
- Supreme Court comment – The Chief Justice of India noted that pending pleas concerning West Bengal by-elections are “only by-elections, that’s all.”
- Election Commission actions – On September 29, 2026 (reiterated October 1) the Commission directed 20 states and UTs to launch a “special drive” to re-enrol voters omitted by the SIR. Booth-Level Officers are to compare pre- and post-SIR rolls, identify wrongly excluded names, and facilitate re-enrolment through Form 6.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | LAFC inaugurated at Kerala House, New Delhi. |
| September 26, 2026 | Election Commission withdrew an additional SIR-related declaration attached to Form 6. |
| September 29, 2026 | Instruction for a special enrolment drive for omitted voters. |
| October 1, 2026 | Instruction reiterated via video conference with state Chief Electoral Officers. |
| October 2, 2026 | Police detained an activist protesting CEC Gyanesh Kumar; LAFC announced the five-judge commission. |
| October 2, 2026 | Supreme Court scheduled to hear a plea demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. |
| October 3, 2026 | Protesters plan demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. |
| December 2026 | Commission to submit its final report. |
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in pending by-election pleas, limiting judicial oversight of the SIR’s immediate effects.
- Final nationwide deletion lists have not been released, leaving the full scope of excluded voters unclear.
- While LAFC asserts the commission will operate independently, it remains uncertain how its recommendations will influence future roll-revision policies.