The Supreme Court has issued a warning to the Association for Democratic Reforms for making unsupported allegations regarding the Election Commission’s methods in validating voter lists. During the proceedings against the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the court encouraged a focus on legal frameworks rather than political posturing or speculative assertions about BLO suicides. NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday told ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ to argue within legal confines while challenging the validity of SIR of voter lists across states and without reciting snide remarks of political parties, after its counsel Prashant Bhushan referred to EC as a ‘despot’.A charged up Bhushan reeled off a set of accusations — SIR is an unprecedented exercise for de novo preparation of voter lists which is impermissible under Representation of the People Act; and an unholy hurry to complete the exercise within a short period has put BLOs under “immense mental and physical strain leading to 30 of them committing suicide”.“A lot of people see EC as a despot as it does not care for the statutory provisions, rules and regulations, and whimsically carries out whatever it feels to be appropriate,” Bhushan said.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi immediately cautioned Bhushan not to deviate from his legal pleadings. “There is no point in making sweeping remarks against EC relying on snide remarks made by political parties (opposed to SIR). Confine your arguments to the legal issues (raised in your petition) to challenge the validity of SIR,” the bench said.Bhushan said SIR was a ruse for EC’s game plan to verify citizenship of residents in constituencies across country. He said citizenship is determined by a competent authority under ministry of home affairs and that EC has no role in this exercise.Earlier in the day, advocate Ashwini Kumar Uadhyay had alleged there were repeated instances of assault and use of criminal force to intimidate BLOs engaged in SIR work in Bengal and other states, and sought a direction from SC to allow EC to requisition the armed forces and state police for preparation of a correct voter list. The bench said, “EC and authorities are competent to take appropriate steps in this regard.”Advocate Vrinda Grover mirrored advocate A M Singhvi, who appeared for Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, TMC MP Mahua Moitra and other petitioners, that SIR was unconstitutional as EC is conducting it following a process which is neither prescribed under RP Act nor in the conduct of election rules.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNavy Chief Confirms India’S Third Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine Soon“Both ‘Rs Must Remember Responsibility”: Bjp Slams Rahul, Renuka Over ‘Dog’ RemarksNo More Disruptions: Lok Sabha to Debate Electoral Reforms Next Week’Imran Khan’s Health Stable, But Facing Mental Torture’, Claims Sister After Jail VisitChina’s Condom Tax Shocks the World Amid Birthrate Drop as India Surges Ahead in Population RankingsPakistan Sparks Controversy With Expired Relief Claims As India Rejects Airspace Allegation StronglyCentre Signals Willingness to Discuss SIR, Asks Opposition Not to Set TimelinePakistan’s Adiala Jail To Open Gate To Imran Khan’s Sister After PTI Fury Forces Sharif, MunirRussia Confirms Su-57 Fighter Jets, S-400 Deal On Agenda Ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India VisitCapt Shubhanshu Shares What India Can Learn from ISS Successes123PhotostoriesJennifer Lawrence’s fitness philosophy: 4 lessons to take from her realistic routine8 animals whose names start with the letter “S”Guava health benefits: 7 reasons why your daily plate needs this humble fruitExclusive – Bigg Boss 19’s Ashnoor Kaur addresses allegations of hitting Tanya Mittal during the task; bond with Abhishek Bajaj; says ‘There’s a platonic love between us’5 timeless quotes by Rumi that echo the true essenceof loveNature’s smartest travellers: 5 animals with homes on their backsFrom Cinnamon Tea to Methi Shots: 8 foods and drinks with proven heart benefitsShah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth: Actors who played both hero and villain in the same film9 lesser-known Biryanis from different parts of IndiaVictoria and David Beckham: Parenting secrets from one of the strongest celebrity couples123Hot PicksParliament Winter SessionCyclone DitwahWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingNina Lin ControversyPaige BueckersShedeur SandersDrake MayeOdell Beckham JrStephen CurryJaxson DartGiannis AntetokounmpoCharlie Kirk ControversyYordan Alvarez Wife
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday told ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ to argue within legal confines while challenging the validity of SIR of voter lists across states and without reciting snide remarks of political parties, after its counsel Prashant Bhushan referred to EC as a ‘despot’.A charged up Bhushan reeled off a set of accusations — SIR is an unprecedented exercise for de novo preparation of voter lists which is impermissible under Representation of the People Act; and an unholy hurry to complete the exercise within a short period has put BLOs under “immense mental and physical strain leading to 30 of them committing suicide”.“A lot of people see EC as a despot as it does not care for the statutory provisions, rules and regulations, and whimsically carries out whatever it feels to be appropriate,” Bhushan said.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi immediately cautioned Bhushan not to deviate from his legal pleadings. “There is no point in making sweeping remarks against EC relying on snide remarks made by political parties (opposed to SIR). Confine your arguments to the legal issues (raised in your petition) to challenge the validity of SIR,” the bench said.Bhushan said SIR was a ruse for EC’s game plan to verify citizenship of residents in constituencies across country. He said citizenship is determined by a competent authority under ministry of home affairs and that EC has no role in this exercise.Earlier in the day, advocate Ashwini Kumar Uadhyay had alleged there were repeated instances of assault and use of criminal force to intimidate BLOs engaged in SIR work in Bengal and other states, and sought a direction from SC to allow EC to requisition the armed forces and state police for preparation of a correct voter list. The bench said, “EC and authorities are competent to take appropriate steps in this regard.”Advocate Vrinda Grover mirrored advocate A M Singhvi, who appeared for Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, TMC MP Mahua Moitra and other petitioners, that SIR was unconstitutional as EC is conducting it following a process which is neither prescribed under RP Act nor in the conduct of election rules.
