Opposition Bloc Takes Election Commission to Supreme Court Over Voter-Roll Revision

On October 12 2026, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc—led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge—filed a joint writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition alleges large-scale voter deletions, unilateral decisions by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, and procedural irregularities in the SIR rollout. The filing followed a “March for Democracy” that began at the Constitution Club, traversed Barakhamba Road, and was halted by police barricades before the leaders entered the court complex.

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The SIR, launched nationwide by an order dated June 24 2025, is intended to purge deceased, shifted or duplicate voters. The Supreme Court’s May 27 2026 judgment in *Association for Democratic Reforms v. Election Commission* upheld the EC’s power to conduct SIR and found the process proportionate, but did not address implementation details. A September 23 2026 investigation by *The Indian Express* reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged objections on at least 14 occasions over a ten-month period, questioning decisions on voter registration, deletion and database access.

Independent audit of voter deletions, suspension of SIR among key prayers in SC plea by Rahul, INDIA bloc leaders

• The petition cites an estimate that roughly 13 crore voter records were marked for deletion nationwide during SIR, though the EC says these figures represent draft-stage markings, not final removals.

From CEC's powers to EVMs: 10 key takeaways from INDIA bloc's SIR petition

• In Punjab, the draft roll published on August 13 2026 showed a reduction of about 20.66 lakh names from an electorate of roughly 2.14 crore.

Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc Seek ECI's Internal SIR Files, Retired-Judge Audit Of Voter Deletions In SC: What The Petition Says

• The Supreme Court registry flagged 14 defects in the petition, including a shortfall of Rs 220 in court fees and missing or illegible identity documents.

The Indian Express

• An RTI request dated July 28 2025 received only the June 24 2025 order; a subsequent appeal on September 26 2026 recorded that the Commission had not formally decided to initiate a nationwide SIR until that date.

Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc Seek ECI's Internal SIR Files, Retired-Judge Audit Of Voter Deletions In SC: What The Petition Says

The EC maintains that all decisions on SIR were taken unanimously by the three commissioners, describing the objections as “normal differences of opinion.” Rahul Gandhi, speaking after the filing, said the bloc “respect[s] the CJI and SC” and welcomed the court’s willingness to consider the petition.

SC permits Congress delegation to file petition within premises as Rahul leads INDIA bloc march

• Deletion figures: The bloc’s claim of 13 crore potential deletions contrasts with the EC’s description of the same number as draft-stage markings, leaving the actual impact on eligible voters unclear.

Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc Seek ECI's Internal SIR Files, Retired-Judge Audit Of Voter Deletions In SC: What The Petition Says

• Form 6 amendment: The petition alleges that the online Form 6 was altered in July 2026 to require a declaration about prior SIR inclusion without amending the 1960 Registration of Electors Rules, a change the EC has not formally approved.

Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc Seek ECI's Internal SIR Files, Retired-Judge Audit Of Voter Deletions In SC: What The Petition Says

• Decision-making process: The petition questions whether CEC Kumar acted unilaterally without the knowledge or concurrence of the other commissioners, while the EC asserts that all decisions were unanimous.

From CEC's powers to EVMs: 10 key takeaways from INDIA bloc's SIR petition

The Supreme Court has indicated that the petition will be listed for hearing after the defects are remedied. A note in the petition references a scheduled hearing on Tuesday 13 October 2026 for related matters, suggesting that the court may address the SIR challenge imminently. The bloc also seeks an interim suspension of the SIR across all states pending adjudication, and the formation of an independent audit committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The Indian Express