Kerala may get more time in SIR; Supreme Court finds demand 'just and fair', instructs to extend deadline

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has confirmed the postponement of the SIR process for the assembly elections in Kerala. The Supreme Court clarified that the state's demand to postpone the SIR process is 'just and fair'. A bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that the Kerala government's demand is correct in the context of the local body elections.

The Election Commission was given until tomorrow to decide on the revised schedule. It was also directed that the Commission should consider the petition objectively and sympathetically. Kerala had requested the Supreme Court to suspend the SIR proceedings till December 21, when new members of the local bodies will take charge.

Chief Secretary Dr. A. Jayathilak had said in a letter to the Election Commission on November 5 that the SIR should be postponed at least until mid-December. Although that petition is before the Commission, the Supreme Court directed the Chief Secretary to submit a new petition. Advocate Haris Beeran, appearing for Muslim League National General Secretary PK Kunhalikutty, had pointed out the difficulties of 35 lakh expatriates, including those in the Gulf region. The court clarified that this matter can also be included in the government's petition. The Supreme Court considered the petitions filed by K.P.C.C. President Sunny Joseph and C.P.M. State Secretary M.V. Govindan.

Commission's objection not considered

The Election Commission informed the court that the deadline for submitting enumeration forms has been extended from December 4 to December 11, when the local body elections end, but the Supreme Court did not take it at face value. The court took seriously the state government's information that the counting of votes for the local body elections will be held on December 13. The officials and booth-level agents assigned for local body election work need to be given time to submit their enumeration forms. Chief Justice Suryakant told the Election Commission's lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi that everyone will be able to submit the forms if the deadline is extended.

1,76,000 people for local body work

The State Election Commission has informed that those who have been appointed for local body election work are not being used in SIR processes. 1,76,000 officials have been released for local body elections. The Central Election Commission has informed that enumeration forms have been issued to 98.8% of the people, and 88% of the forms have been converted to digital format. The court did not give priority to this argument.