SC closes Tamil Nadu electoral rolls revision case after Bihar verdict
The Supreme Court has closed 13 petitions challenging the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that further adjudication was not required, citing the apex court's judgment in the Bihar SIR case, which upheld the Election Commission's power to conduct such exercises. Petitioners, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, had argued that the SIR was a 'de novo citizenship verification process' that risked disenfranchising lakhs of voters and eroded the federal structure by unilaterally imposing the exercise without consulting state governments.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court closed petitions challenging Tamil Nadu's electoral roll revision, referencing its Bihar SIR judgment.
- The Bihar SIR judgment upheld the Election Commission's power to conduct intensive electoral roll revisions.
- Petitioners argued the revision risked disenfranchising voters and undermined federalism by not consulting the State government.
- The Court had previously stated that the exercise 'breathes life' into the constitutional mandate for fair elections.
Exam Facts
- Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- The case involved 13 petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was among the petitioners.
- The Bihar SIR judgment was delivered on May 27.
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