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Delhi High Court Issues Rulings on Voter-Roll Re-inclusion and SC/ST Probe After Jantar Mantar Protest
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Court Ruling on Voter-Roll Re-inclusion
In mid-October, a Delhi High Court bench comprising Justices Dinesh Mehta and Aditi Choudhary ruled that voters whose names were removed from draft electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise may submit Form 6 to seek re-inclusion. The judges rejected the petitioners’ fear that the form, normally used for new registrations, could expose them to accusations of false declaration. They noted that the suggestion to use Form 6 came from the Election Commission of India’s standing counsel on the instructions of the Electoral Registration Officer. The court closed the writ proceedings, allowing the applicants to file the form, which will be processed according to existing law. Poll officials have begun reverification of more than 47 lakh voters whose names were deleted in the SIR exercise.
SC/ST Act Probe Into Journalists
Following a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3, where journalists and police officers exchanged allegations, the Delhi Police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act against journalists Rosy and Gajendra Singh, as well as an unidentified individual. The complaint was filed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat, who alleged caste-based remarks and public humiliation during the demonstration. The journalists subsequently petitioned the Delhi High Court for relief and a stay of the investigation. The court declined to grant a stay, permitting the police probe to continue.
Background: SIR Exercise and Jantar Mantar Demonstration
The SIR exercise, a nationwide effort to update electoral rolls, led to the removal of many names after voters changed addresses. The process sparked protests by political parties and civil-society groups across India. On October 3, a demonstration at Jantar Mantar highlighted tensions surrounding the roll revision, with journalists accusing police of misconduct and the police alleging casteist remarks against an officer.
Implications for Voters and Media
The High Court’s allowance of Form 6 for re-inclusion offers a procedural remedy for affected voters, potentially reducing disenfranchisement ahead of upcoming elections. Simultaneously, the decision to let the SC/ST Act investigation proceed underscores the judiciary’s willingness to allow statutory inquiries into alleged caste-based offenses, even amid competing claims from journalists. Both rulings illustrate the legal system’s role in mediating disputes that arise from the SIR exercise and related public protests.