CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: CNN Central News and Network – ITDC India ePress / ITDC News, Bhopal.
New Delhi. The Supreme Court Registry has pointed out 14 procedural defects in a petition filed by opposition leaders against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. These include a shortfall of Rs 220 in the prescribed court fee, an unclear copy of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s identity card, and the non-availability of vakalatnamas for nine petitioners. Because of these deficiencies, the process of listing the petition for urgent hearing has been affected. The information came to light on October 13, 2026.
The petition has been filed by 11 leaders of opposition parties, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. It raises questions over the Election Commission’s electoral roll revision process and alleged irregularities. The petitioners have sought an independent inquiry into the SIR process and have asked that it be stayed until the court gives its decision in the matter.
During scrutiny of the petition, the Registry recorded several deficiencies in the documents, legal formalities and information submitted. The process of listing the matter for hearing can move forward only after these objections are addressed.
According to the Registry’s objections, Rs 220 less than the prescribed court fee was deposited with the petition. In addition, the copy of Mallikarjun Kharge’s identity card was not clear and readable. The Registry has also directed that clear copies of certain necessary documents be filed with the petition.
The vakalatnamas of nine other opposition leaders named in the petition were also either not found or did not carry the required signatures. A vakalatnama is the document through which a party authorises a lawyer to represent them in court.
The Registry has also raised objections regarding the readability of some documents attached to the petition, the sequence of pages and the required records. These include a demand to submit a copy of the Election Commission’s June 24, 2025 decision under which the SIR process was initiated. In addition, coloured copies of some pages, copies of digital documents and related records have been sought. The Registry has also asked for clarification on why the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners have been made individual respondents in a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution.
In their petition, the opposition leaders have sought an independent inquiry into the process of deletion and revision of names in the electoral roll. The petition proposes the formation of an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and an audit of the electoral roll with the assistance of technical experts. The petitioners have also demanded that before the name of any eligible voter is deleted, the voter should be informed and given a proper opportunity to present their side. They have further sought the public release of booth-wise details of deleted names and the reasons for their deletion.
The defects pointed out by the Registry are procedural. They do not mean that the Supreme Court has rejected the allegations made in the petition or upheld the SIR process. The petitioners will first have to resolve the Registry’s objections. After that, the way may be cleared for hearing the matter and for judicial consideration of the issues raised in the petition.
The development has given a new turn to the ongoing dispute between the ruling side and the opposition over the electoral process. Further action will now depend on when the petitioners complete the required documents and formalities, and when the matter is listed for hearing.
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