The Supreme Court emphasised that electoral roll revisions must be thorough, not mere copies. The Election Commission’s voter enumeration process will involve inquiries to confirm citizenship, rather than waiting for complaints. The Court noted migration as a valid reason for nationwide roll updates, even without specific statistics, and dismissed claims of arbitrariness in the selection of states for the exercise. ‘Trans-Border Movement Also Migration’ NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Thursday said SIR of electoral rolls, being carried out after more than two decades, cannot be a copy-paste of earlier voter lists and, logically, the voter enumeration by the Election Commission would include an inquisitorial process to ascertain, not determine, citizenship.Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for a petitioner challenging the validity of SIR process, said voter enumeration exercise cannot begin with distrust on part of EC to test citizenship of every voter, especially when the statutory task to determine citizenship, upon receipt of a complaint about a foreigner, is vested with other authorities.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “EC is constitutionally vested with the power of superintendence of elections, which would include ensuring that only Indian citizens are registered as voters. Would it mean that EC must await a complaint, or undertake an inquisitorial exercise to determine who are doubtful voters? It is better to conduct a summary inquiry rather than await a complaint.”Ramachandran said the SIR for Bihar, according to EC, was necessitated for two reasons – mass migration and rapid urbanisation. “Reason for Bihar SIR cannot be reason for conducting pan-India SIR as different states have different demography and ground situation relating to electoral rolls,” he said, adding EC failed to provide detailed reasons for conducting such an exercise.This was the second time when SC had justified updation of poll rolls through SIR. The bench said in the June 24 notification, giving the two reasons for conducting SIR, gives out an intention to carry out pan-India SIR with Bihar as the starting point. “Migration encompasses both inter-state and cross-border movement of population mainly for economic reasons. For some people across the border, Indian cities are economically more viable. While from India, talented people are migrating to other countries. For citing migration as a reason for SIR, no statistics or research is required,” it said.Ramachandran said that states like Chhattisgarh and MP, which are going to polls in 2028, are included in SIR exercise, while other states where elections are due in future have been excluded. “Whole process is arbitrary,” he added. The arguments would continue on Tuesday.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJinnah To Nehru: Top Moments From Heated Vande Mataram Debate In Parliament Winter Session22 Feared Dead As Truck Falls Into Gorge In Arunachal Pradesh’Warm And Engaging’: PM Modi Holds Phone Call With Trump Amid Trade Talks, US-India Ties Discussed’If They’re Happy, They Should Sign’: Goyal Responds To USTR’s ‘Best Offer Ever From India’ RemarkHow Bangladesh’s Feb 12 Vote Could Reshape India’s Northeast Access And Regional Power BalanceBJP Charges TMC MP of Smoking Inside Parliament After Giriraj-Sougata Face-off Over E-CigaretteExplained: Did Mexico Follow Trump’s Footsteps To Slap Tariff on India? Impact on Indian TradersKharge Hits Back As JP Nadda Slams Nehru, Congress Over Vande Mataram In Rajya SabhaSouth Asian Bloc Minus India? Why Pak’s Fresh Regional Pitch Fails On Economics, Politics, Geography‘Hands Were Trembling’: Rahul Gandhi Takes Sharp Dig At Amit Shah Over Ls Address123PhotostoriesAkhanda, Narasimha Naidu and more: Nandamuri Balakrishna’s biggest box office blockbusters ahead of ‘Akhanda 2’ releaseHappy 75th Birthday Rajinikanth: Lesser known facts of the superstarLesser-known facts about South superstar Venkatesh Daggubati10 South Indian Rasams to keep warm during the winter seasonExclusive – Bigg Boss 19 winner Gaurav Khanna on Salman Khan’s film offer, Anupamaa co-star Rupali Ganguly’s support, and how he plans to use his prize moneyLessons only a father can teach his daughter5 love quotes by Ravinder Singh in their most raw and beautiful wordsUltimate caregivers: 5 animals that die after giving birth to their youngSHE Travels: 7 road trips in India every woman who loves driving should experience onceNick Jonas’ journey with type 1 diabetes for two decades: Early signs to spot the disease123Hot PicksUS Pakistan DealTrump Gold CardSpiceJet FlightGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingSherrone MooreIsaiah RiderStephen CurryNBA InjuryLebron JamesOlivia DunneTroy AikmanBengaluru CrimePaige Shiver Net WorthJeff Shiver
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Thursday said SIR of electoral rolls, being carried out after more than two decades, cannot be a copy-paste of earlier voter lists and, logically, the voter enumeration by the Election Commission would include an inquisitorial process to ascertain, not determine, citizenship.Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for a petitioner challenging the validity of SIR process, said voter enumeration exercise cannot begin with distrust on part of EC to test citizenship of every voter, especially when the statutory task to determine citizenship, upon receipt of a complaint about a foreigner, is vested with other authorities.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “EC is constitutionally vested with the power of superintendence of elections, which would include ensuring that only Indian citizens are registered as voters. Would it mean that EC must await a complaint, or undertake an inquisitorial exercise to determine who are doubtful voters? It is better to conduct a summary inquiry rather than await a complaint.”Ramachandran said the SIR for Bihar, according to EC, was necessitated for two reasons – mass migration and rapid urbanisation. “Reason for Bihar SIR cannot be reason for conducting pan-India SIR as different states have different demography and ground situation relating to electoral rolls,” he said, adding EC failed to provide detailed reasons for conducting such an exercise.This was the second time when SC had justified updation of poll rolls through SIR. The bench said in the June 24 notification, giving the two reasons for conducting SIR, gives out an intention to carry out pan-India SIR with Bihar as the starting point. “Migration encompasses both inter-state and cross-border movement of population mainly for economic reasons. For some people across the border, Indian cities are economically more viable. While from India, talented people are migrating to other countries. For citing migration as a reason for SIR, no statistics or research is required,” it said.Ramachandran said that states like Chhattisgarh and MP, which are going to polls in 2028, are included in SIR exercise, while other states where elections are due in future have been excluded. “Whole process is arbitrary,” he added. The arguments would continue on Tuesday.
