Full Breakdown
Opposition’s Supreme Court Challenge to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – “March for Democracy” and Joint Petition (October 12, 2026)
On Monday, the INDIA bloc marched through central Delhi and filed a joint writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking an interim suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a full audit of voter deletions, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Signatories included Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Saugata Roy, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sanjay Raut, M A Baby, D Raja, Mahua Majhi, Supriya Sule and E T Basheer.
Background & Context – Allegations Behind the SIR
The Election Commission launched the SIR in June 2025. Opposition parties claim the revision has led to large-scale deletions of eligible voters, that Form 6 was altered without a statutory amendment, and that the CEC acted without the concurrence of the other two commissioners. A September 23 2026 report recorded objections by the two commissioners on at least 14 occasions.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 24 2025 | EC order to commence SIR. |
| September 23 2026 | Report of 14+ objections by two commissioners. |
| September 26 2026 | Press note claiming unanimous EC approval. |
| October 10 2026 | Opposition wrote to CJI Surya Kant. |
| October 11 2026 | CJI advised filing a petition. |
| October 12 2026 | “March for Democracy” and filing of joint petition. |
| October 13 2026 (scheduled) | Supreme Court hearing of related SIR matters. |
| May 27 2026 | SC judgment confirming EC’s power to conduct SIR. |
| October 5 2026 | SC oral clarification that it had not approved the modified Form 6. |
Data & Statistics
- Petition signatories: 11 leaders from nine parties.
- West Bengal claim: 27 lakh voters allegedly lost voting rights; a tribunal found 1 717 of 1 777 deletions (? 96 %) wrongful.
- Form 6 amendment: Introduced in July 2026 without a corresponding rule change.
Why It Matters
If the Supreme Court suspends the SIR, millions of voters could retain their registration ahead of upcoming state elections, affecting the BJP-led NDA’s electoral calculus. The case also tests the constitutional limits of the Election Commission’s collective powers and the transparency of its electronic roll-maintenance systems.
Official Statements & Responses
- CJI Surya Kant declined a personal meeting, noting the issues are sub judice and the petition can be heard under Article 32.
- Election Commission maintained that internal dissent is normal and its decisions were unanimous, rejecting the allegation of unilateral action.
Criticism & Opposition
BJP leaders dismissed the march as a political stunt, suggesting the opposition is exploiting the SIR issue rather than addressing procedural flaws.
On-the-Ground Reports
Thousands of protesters—including students, senior citizens and lawyers—gathered at the Constitution Club, marched along Barakhamba Road and Mandi House, and were stopped by police barricades before reaching the Supreme Court. NDTV described the crowd as “standing in a standstill” with leaders addressing supporters from atop vehicles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The petition cites a 27 lakh-voter impact in West Bengal, while the Election Commission has not released a nationwide figure.
- The claim that Form 6 was altered without rule amendment is contested by the EC, which says the procedural change was lawful.