Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Assures No Prosecution for Voters Deleted in Maharashtra SIR
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Court Hearing on Maharashtra Voter Deletions
On October 26, 2026, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, heard a petition by chartered accountant-journalist Arun Anandagiri challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra. The bench refused to extend the October 26 deadline for filing claims, issued notice to the Election Commission of India, and orally assured that no voter whose name was deleted during the SIR will face prosecution for filing Form 6. The matter was listed for a further hearing on November 5, 2026.
Background & Context
The SIR, a voter-roll cleansing exercise launched in June 2025, has hit Maharashtra hard as redevelopment projects displaced residents. Senior advocate Arvind Datar noted thousands of occupants were marked “not found” and deleted from draft rolls, forcing them to use Form 6, which is meant for first-time voters and could expose them to criminal liability.
Data & Statistics
- Total voters in Maharashtra: ? 9 crore.
- Deleted voters claimed: ? 3 crore (about 33 %).
- Logical-discrepancy deletions: 1.22 crore.
- Cities most affected: Mumbai (? 3.6 million deletions), Pune (? 2.86 million), Thane (? 2.85 million), Nagpur (? 1.4 million).
Official Statements & Responses
Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “Nobody will be prosecuted.” He noted the court could extend the filing deadline later if needed and directed the ECI to submit a response. The bench refused an interim order to halt the ECI’s publication of the final roll scheduled for November 6, 2026.
Criticism & Opposition
Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi warned that those forced to file Form 6 “have committed a criminal offence carrying one year prison.” He argued the ECI’s reliance on Form 6 exposes displaced voters to legal risk.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is shocking, out of 9 crore voters, 3 crores have been knocked off. They have been asked to fill form 6 which is for new voters,” — Sr Adv Arvind Datar
- “All those who have been forced to fill it have committed a criminal offence carrying one year prison,” — Quraishi, chief election commissioner
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the scale of deletions: some cite 33 % of the electorate, others report around 40 % missing in specific cities. The “logical discrepancy” figure remains at 1.22 crore, but total affected voters vary between 3 crore and 3.6 million for Mumbai alone. No definitive mechanism for restoring deleted voters has been provided.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court will reconvene on November 5, 2026 to consider the ECI’s response. The draft roll is slated for publication on November 6, 2026, with the final roll due on November 16, 2026. The court may issue directions on extending the claims-and-objections window or on introducing a separate form for deleted voters.