{
  "id": 14076974,
  "title": "Opposition to Supreme Court: Probe Election Commission decisions, audit of SIR voter deletions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/opposition-to-supreme-court-probe-election-commission-decisions-audit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T00:25:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-india-bloc-supreme-court-election-commission-sir-petition-10918732/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and other leaders from the INDIA bloc parties have filed a joint petition with the Supreme Court to investigate the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The opposition alleges that the ECI acted unilaterally and arbitrarily during the SIR process, without consulting other Election Commissioners and violating procedural rules.\n\nThe petition raises concerns over the alleged unilateral exercise of the ECI's powers by the Chief Election Commissioner, the absence of a recorded decision authorizing the nationwide SIR, the unlawful modification of statutory Form 6, and the centralized, opaque functioning of the ECINET and ERONET databases. The opposition also points to large-scale exclusion of electors without proper notice, hearing, or a mechanism for restoration.\n\nThe petition cites an investigative report by The Indian Express, which revealed that the two Election Commissioners raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of ten months. The ECI responded by stating that the reports only represent one side of the story, and that the Commission's decisions were unanimous.\n\nThe opposition leaders have not sought to challenge the validity of the SIR process itself, but rather demanded transparency and scrutiny of the Commission's actions during the SIR. They have requested the court to direct the ECI to disclose all records related to the SIR, including files, agendas, minutes, objections, and reasons for deletions. The petition also calls for an independent audit by a panel of retired judges and experts, and an interim injunction suspending the SIR until the court adjudicates the issues raised.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge file petition with Supreme Court.",
    "ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process criticized for unilateral actions.",
    "Opposition demands transparency, audit, and interim injunction on SIR."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The petition shifts the focus from the validity of voter roll revisions to the internal decision-making processes and procedural transparency of the Election Commission of India.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Irish Times",
        "title": "Supreme Court will hear Brazilian woman’s case over Irish naturalisation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/supreme-court-will-hear-brazilian-womans-case-over-irish",
        "published": "2026-10-12T22:39:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Opposition to Supreme Court: Probe Election Commission decisions, audit of SIR voter deletions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/opposition-to-supreme-court-probe-election-commission-decisions-audit-14081403",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:25:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}