{
  "id": 14097832,
  "title": "Anti-CEC protests LIVE: Supreme Court registry points out 10 defects in Rahul Gandhi's plea in SIR case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/anti-cec-protests-live-supreme-court-registry-points-out-10-defects",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T02:21:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-cec-delhi-protest-against-gyanesh-kumar-cec-october-13-2026-live-updates/article71577767.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court registry on October 12, 2026, highlighted over a dozen flaws in the petition submitted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and associates regarding widespread voter eliminations and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition demanded the formation of an independent committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge and backed by technical experts and other distinguished citizens, to carry out a thorough and timely audit of deletions and modifications made during the SIR. This move followed the intense protests against allegations of vote theft, which extended to the Supreme Court premises on October 13, 2026. The Delhi High Court agreed to hear a petition on the same day regarding the closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, as well as another petition alleging harassment of peaceful protesters by outsiders. National Students’ Union of India president Vinod Jakhar filed a petition seeking a prompt, impartial investigation into reported assaults on protesters on October 10.",
  "summary": "Opposition leaders, activists, and civil society members conducted a “March for Democracy” in central Delhi to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and alleged poll irregularities. According to The Hindu, the group marched on a heavily barricaded route and filed a joint petition regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and alleged irregularities in Delhi. Hindustan Times reports that Rahul Gandhi led the march from the Constitution Club to Bhagwan Das Road, representing one of the largest political mobilisations in recent years following two days of police action against agitators.\n\nA joint writ petition was filed with the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other INDIA bloc leaders. The Indian Express - India reports that the petition challenges the legitimacy of the SIR, alleging that the CEC exercised the Commission's collective powers without the concurrence of other commissioners. The plea further alleges the absence of a recorded decision authorizing the nationwide SIR, the unlawful modification of statutory Form 6, opaque functioning of electoral-roll databases, and the large-scale exclusion of electors without adequate notice or hearing.\n\nHindustan Times reports that the Supreme Court registry flagged 14 defects in the petition. These included a ₹220 shortfall in court fees, an illegible photocopy of Mallikarjun Kharge’s identity card, and missing vakalatnamas for nine of the 11 petitioners. The petition names the Election Commission of India, Gyanesh Kumar, and two other election commissioners as respondents.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/14097832.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "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 - India",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:25:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "INEC to decide on Supreme Court judgement today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/inec-to-decide-on-supreme-court-judgement-today",
        "published": "2026-10-13T01:18:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Opposition takes CEC protest to Supreme Court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/opposition-takes-cec-protest-to-supreme-court",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:19:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}