'Extend deadline by two weeks, publish names deleted on website'; SC on Kerala SIR

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to extend the deadline by two weeks for those excluded from the list to file an objection. This comes in the backdrop of petitioners, including the state government, pointing out the hardship faced by the people. The current deadline is January 22.

The website of the Election Commission should immediately publish the names of those removed from the electoral roll. It should be displayed before public institutions like the Gram Panchayat. The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, clarified that the order intends to ensure transparency in the proceedings. The Election Commission should implement the order and submit an affidavit.

The commission had scheduled the final voter list to be published on February 21. The extension of the deadline for filing objections will delay the final list. This list is used for the assembly elections. Following the intervention of the Supreme Court, the deadline for submitting the enumeration form was extended twice. It was extended from December 4 to December 11 and then to December 18.

The petitioners argued that the names of those excluded were not available on the website. The names need to be published for voters to file objections. Lack of transparency creates great difficulty for voters. Some voters have been wrongly shown as dead.

The petitions filed by the state government, KPCC President Sunny Joseph, CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan, CPI State Council, Muslim League National General Secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty and others were considered.