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New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India (ECI) order directing special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists in the state.
The writ petition, filed by party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharti, described the move as “arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of the Constitution”.
The plea, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeks to quash the ECI’s October 27 order, which had extended the SIR process, first initiated in Bihar in June, to several states including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
“If the SIR orders are not quashed, it will arbitrarily and without due process deprive millions of voters of electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” the petition said.
It said the ECI’s decision violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960.
Describing the practice as a “colorful exercise of power”, the petition argued that the SIR is tantamount to a “de facto National Register of Citizens (NRC)” by imposing a “citizenship-like burden of proof” on registered voters.
The petition argued, “The respondent (Election Commission of India) does not have the power to assess the citizenship of individuals… By imposing the burden of proof such as citizenship, the SIR is working beyond its statutory purpose, effectively functioning as a de facto NRC.”
It said Tamil Nadu had already completed the special summary revision of its electoral rolls in January 2025, which was “suitable and adequate for use in the upcoming assembly elections”.
Seeking direction for fresh verification, the plea said it was “unnecessary, arbitrary and lacking statutory justification”.
It also mentioned alleged flaws in the ongoing SIR process in Bihar, where “65.2 lakh existing voters were removed from the rolls”. “If Bihar is taken as an example, there is no doubt that there will be massive voter boycott in Tamil Nadu too,” the petition said.
Calling for judicial intervention, the petition has urged the Supreme Court to cancel the Election Commission’s October 27 directive as unconstitutional.
–IANS
PDS/VD