SIR storm reaches the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Election Commission of India over the plea by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition members over mass voter deletions and alleged irregularities in the revision of voter rolls exercise.The country's top court is seeking response from the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on Gandhi and others' plea.Also Read: SC likely to hear Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc leader’s plea against ECI’s SIR decisions tomorrowIt is hearing a plea on which challenges India's controversial revision in voter roles, as the opposition bloc looks to suspend the exercise and hold the top election official accountable after series of mass protests and detentions.The apex court is also hearing multiple petitions pertaining to detention of protestors by the Delhi Police, alleged brutality and multiple restrictions of free travel and movement in the national capital. It will also be scrutinising the detention of multiple Supreme Court lawyers and journalists, along with a curb on internet usage in cenral Delhi over the last weekend.SC's notice to Election Commission over RaGa's pleaThe top court issued notice on a petition filed by Gandhi and nine other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the revision of electoral rolls.A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarked while issuing notice, “We would also ask one of the petitioners about his conduct.” The bench sought response from ECI, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on Gandhi and others' plea.The petition follows an Opposition march towards the Supreme Court on October 12, led by Gandhi, against the SIR exercise.A quick background checkThe expected hearing comes on the heels of massive protests led by India's opposition political parties and youth-led outfit Cockroach Janata Party after a report by the Indian Express alleged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar authorised decisions without the consent of other Election Commissioners and disregarded their objections regarding the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls.The SIR exercise, launched in 2025, has led to more than 13 crore names being removed from draft voter lists. Opposition parties have alleged that eligible voters are being left out to aide the interests of the ruling BJP.The Election Commission and the BJP have defended the SIR exercise saying that the move is to ensure voter rolls remain transparent and not have names of deceased, duplicate or inelligible voters. The Opposition has called for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and for independent probes into the working of the poll body. The BJP has criticised the opposition parties, saying they have lost elections due to poor leadership and rejection from voters rather than due to the SIR process.India is gearing up for key electoral battles next year with special focus on Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state.