SC steps in on Kerala SIR exclusions; seeks EC report on form 7 irregularities in UP

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take a sympathetic approach towards people who were unable to submit enumeration forms during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. Such individuals can approach the Commission directly, the court said, directing it to accept their representations, examine the facts and take appropriate decisions. The Commission must also submit a report detailing the action taken, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed.

However, the court made it clear that no further extension of the deadline was necessary for the SIR exercise in Kerala, noting that the revision of electoral rolls is a continuous process. The issue concerning Kerala was brought to the court's attention by lawyers while it was hearing petitions related to the SIR exercise in various states. The Election Commission informed the court that the SIR process in Kerala had been completed and the Assembly election had also been conducted. The final electoral roll was published on February 21, 2026.

Supreme Court Intervenes in Uttar Pradesh SIR

Petitioners, including Congress MP Tanuj Punia and Samajwadi Party leader Arvind Kumar Singh, raised concerns over the alleged widespread misuse of Form 7 during the SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh. The form is used to raise objections to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll or to seek the deletion of an existing entry on prescribed grounds. The petitioners alleged that the provision was being misused on a large scale, with political parties' booth-level agents also able to submit such objections.

The Election Commission acknowledged receiving a large number of false Form 7 applications but told the court that no action had been taken on them. The Supreme Court directed the petitioners to submit details of unresolved irregularities to the Commission and asked the poll panel to examine the facts, take necessary corrective measures and file a compliance report.