Supreme Court Setback for Centre in SIR Case; Immediate Completion of Procedures Ordered

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the central government and the Election Commission to take immediate steps to update India’s revised electoral rolls, ensuring that all eligible citizens are included and irregularities rectified.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the process of updating the electoral rolls should be expedited. The court’s intervention came in response to a petition alleging widespread omissions and duplicate entries in the electoral lists.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy, and no one should be denied this right on technical grounds,” the court observed, urging the adoption of scientific methods to maintain accurate voter records.

The bench also sought updates on the progress of linking voter IDs with Aadhaar cards and called for special drives to correct errors in the electoral rolls. Adequate facilities must be provided to ensure non-resident voters and transgender citizens can register and have their names included.

The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission to file a detailed affidavit on these measures by next month.