The petition, which arraigned the EC and its three Commissioners as respondents, sought an explanation on the modification of the online Form 6 available on ECINET from July 2026
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SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a full and complete disclosure of “files, agendas, minutes, notings and objections” recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) which has so far deleted about 13 crore voters across India.
Gandhi sought a judicial examination of the Election Commission records to verify whether Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar acted arbitrarily and unilaterally during the ongoing SIR.
The Congress leader said the petition highlights serious concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process itself under the SIR. He argued that the aftermath of the SIR has witnessed the infringement of the constitutional right of eligible citizens to be registered as voters and to exercise their right to vote.
Gandhi sought an interim direction from the Supreme Court to suspend the SIR pending consideration and adjudication of the issues raised in the petition in order to protect the rights of eligible electors and preserving the integrity of the electoral process.
“The right to vote belongs to every eligible citizen irrespective of political affiliation, and its protection is a constitutional imperative that transcends party politics,” the petition, represented by senior advocate AM Singhvi and filed through advocate Prasanna S, said.
The petition reproduced an excerpt of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s response to Gandhi and co-petitioner and Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge to their letter seeking a meeting on October 12. While the CJI had the meeting, the top judge had pointed out that pending petitions on identical issues were coming up for hearing on October 13.
“If so advised, you may submit your petition on Monday (October 12), either physically at the Supreme Court of India, between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm …. You have my assurance that any such petition shall be heard at the earliest possible opportunity, in accordance with law,” the CJI’s letter had promised. Mr. Gandhi said the petition was filed banking on the Chief Justice’s promise for an early hearing.
Gandhi and other Opposition leaders marched to the Supreme Court on October 12 even though their petition was technically filed at 4.37 p.m. They entered the Supreme Court Registry, verified their supporting documents with the Registry officials and left. Their arrival was in the presence of heavy security and under stampede-like conditions with supporters raising slogans.
The petitioners, who also include, Saugata Roy, Akhilesh Yadav, Teashwi Prasad Yadav, Sanjay Raut, M.A. Baby, D. Raja, Mahua Majhi, Supriya Sile and E.T. Mohammed Basheer — drawn from political parties covering the Opposition bloc — asked the court to direct the Election Commission of India (EC) to provide ECINET and ERONET access logs and the complete file recording the June 24, 2025 decision to commence the SIR.
The petition, which arraigned the EC and its three Commissioners as respondents, sought an explanation on the modification of the online Form 6 available on ECINET from July 2026 by the addition of a declaration concerning the presence of the applicant or their relatives in an earlier SIR electoral roll.
The petition asked the court to constitute an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to conduct an independent audit of the deletions and modifications made during the SIR.
Gandhi and other petitioners have also urged the court to task the proposed independent committee to carry out a review of the “decisions, policies, procedures, protocols, technical designs and architecture relating to the use and deployment of Electronic Voting Machines”.
The petitioners demanded that the EC publish booth-wise, the names of all electors deleted during the SIR, together with the reasons for each deletion and a breakdown of deletions by gender and age, and to provide an effective and functional mechanism for restoring the names of electors found eligible for inclusion in the electoral rolls.
They asked the court to ensure that eligible persons in Punjab and other States going to the polls are permitted to seek inclusion in the electoral rolls until the last date permitted by law.
Published on October 12, 2026
