The Supreme Court has shown concern for officials tied up with local polls
The Supreme Court has advised the Election Commission of India to consider extending the deadline for submitting enumeration forms under Kerala’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This step comes at a time when the State is conducting local body elections and many officials involved in the poll process are unable to complete their SIR responsibilities. The suggestion is not a directive but a clear signal that more time may be necessary to avoid leaving out eligible voters.
The bench, led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, took note of the situation after the Election Commission informed the Court that it had already extended the deadline from December 4 to December 11. However, the ongoing local body elections scheduled for December 9 and 11, followed by counting on December 13, are keeping many government staff fully occupied.
Because of this overlap, The Supreme Court has said that officers involved in the polls need adequate time to upload their SIR forms without being pressured by deadlines. The Court made it clear that extending the timeline further would allow anyone who missed the current window to complete the process without difficulty.
In its order, the Court stated that the request for more time was “just and fair” and should be considered by the ECI. Kerala has now been allowed to file a formal representation giving detailed reasons for the extension, and the Court has asked the ECI to review it objectively and sympathetically within two days.
The hearing took place in response to petitions from the State government and several political groups, including the Indian Union Muslim League, KPCC, CPI(M) and CPI, who argued that the SIR should be deferred while the elections were underway.
The Supreme Court has observed that a large NRI population adds complexity to Kerala’s voter verification
During the proceedings, the State Election Commission clarified that the SIR process was not disrupting the local body elections. Officials assigned to election duty had already been exempted from SIR responsibilities, and Kerala had deployed a dedicated staff of over 1.7 lakh people for the polls. Meanwhile, more than 25,000 personnel were allocated specifically for the SIR.
The ECI emphasized that more than 98% of the SIR forms had been distributed and around 80% digitised. Senior advocates appearing for the Commission maintained that the revision process was running smoothly.
However, another serious concern was raised about Kerala’s large non-resident population. Advocate Haris Beeran pointed out that more than 35 lakh Keralites working abroad face practical challenges during the verification stage. While they can apply online, Booth Level Officers often insist that the applicant must be physically present at home for verification.
For NRIs who visit India only occasionally, this becomes nearly impossible. The Supreme Court has allowed this issue to also be included in Kerala’s representation to the ECI.
The Supreme Court has noted the need to balance SIR progress with fair access for voters
The petitioners argued that rushing through the SIR during the election period could result in genuine voters being left out. They said that the verification timelines should reflect Kerala’s unique population pattern, where a significant number of families depend on members who work abroad and return home only for short periods.
The Supreme Court has not stopped the SIR process, nor has it interfered with the local body elections. Instead, it has taken a middle approach respecting the ECI’s authority while signalling that rigid timelines may harm the purpose of maintaining accurate electoral rolls. The Court’s remarks suggest that extending the deadline is not only reasonable but necessary to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded because of election-related duties or unavoidable absence. Also Read: Actress Lakshmi Menan Shines at E.S. B Movie Inauguration in Kuala Lumpur in 2025
The Supreme Court has created space for a practical solution without halting ongoing processes
Kerala had first approached the High Court for relief, but the High Court declined to intervene and directed the parties to the Supreme Court, which was already examining SIR-related matters. By allowing Kerala to file a representation and asking the ECI to look at it with urgency, the Court has ensured that the issue can be resolved quickly without disturbing the election schedule.
View this post on Instagram
Conclusion
The situation now depends on how the Election Commission responds to Kerala’s representation. The Supreme Court has highlighted the need for fairness in the SIR timeline, especially during an active election period, but the final decision rests with the ECI.
