The Election Commission of India ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, requiring fresh documentary proof of citizenship and residence. This led to the possible deletion of lakhs of names, prompting petitioners to argue it endangered the voting rights of the poor and migrants, while the Commission defended it as necessary housekeeping for clean elections. The Supreme Court has now upheld the SIR exercise.
The case raises the constitutional question of who checks the Election Commission's powers over maintaining electoral rolls, a body tasked with safeguarding the integrity of elections under the Constitution. The ruling touches on the balance between administrative efficiency in roll maintenance and protection of the fundamental right to vote, especially for vulnerable and mobile populations.
For exam purposes, remember: SIR = Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by ECI; Supreme Court upheld it; the case centres on ECI's constitutional role as guardian of free and fair elections versus citizens' franchise rights.