2 hrs ago
Bombay High Court Sets Hearings on Maharashtra SIR Challenges
Two groups of voters have asked the Bombay High Court to examine how Maharashtra’s voter lists are being updated.
They are worried that some people could be removed from the lists or excluded because of documentation problems.
One case is based partly on an Indian Express investigation into the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
The petitioners want deleted voters restored and certain Election Commission orders cancelled.
They also want an independent committee to investigate possible data deletions and software blockages.
Another case says that collecting documents could lead to people being excluded.
Lawyers asked the court to hear both matters quickly.
The judges questioned why the cases were urgent but scheduled hearings for October 5 and October 22.
The court has not yet decided whether the allegations are correct.
The Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur circuit bench will hear a writ petition by four Maharashtra voters on October 22.
The petition cites an Indian Express investigation and challenges 14 alleged unilateral administrative orders linked to the Special Intensive Revision.
It seeks restoration of deleted voters, cancellation of Maharashtra’s SIR directions, and an independent inquiry led by a former Bombay High Court judge.
A separate petition at the court’s Mumbai principal seat will be listed on October 5 over document collection and possible voter exclusions.
The court questioned the urgency of both pleas but did not rule on their merits or grant the requested relief.
- Who
- Four registered voters filed one petition, while two residents filed another; lawyers Asim Sarode and Prakash Ambedkar represented the petitioners.
- What
- The petitions challenge aspects of Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, including alleged unilateral administrative orders, document collection, and voter exclusions.
- Where
- Before the Bombay High Court, in its Kolhapur circuit bench and Mumbai principal seat.
- When
- The Kolhapur circuit bench scheduled a hearing for October 22, while the Mumbai principal seat scheduled the other petition for October 5.
- Why
- The petitioners allege that voters’ rights may be infringed through voter deletions, data deletions, software blockages, and exclusion based on uncollectible documents.
Petitioners’ concerns
Court’s procedural response
Urgency of hearings
Petitioners’ concerns
The petitioners’ lawyers argued that the matters required urgent consideration because large numbers of voters could be deleted or excluded.
Court’s procedural response
The judges questioned what made the cases urgent and scheduled hearings for October 5 and October 22 rather than granting immediate relief.
Legality of administrative orders
Petitioners’ concerns
One petition alleges that the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar passed administrative orders singlehandedly and violated the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act.
Court’s procedural response
The court has not yet ruled on those allegations; the reported proceedings concerned listing and hearing dates.
Proposed remedies
Petitioners’ concerns
The petitioners seek restoration of voters, cancellation of Maharashtra’s SIR directions, an independent committee, and a pause in forthcoming Assembly elections until compliant rolls are approved.
Court’s procedural response
The court has only agreed to hear the petitions at the reported stage and has not ordered any of those remedies.
Key facts
- Issue
- Challenges to Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Kolhapur petition
- Filed by four residents and registered voters
- Kolhapur hearing
- October 22
- Mumbai petition
- Filed by two residents concerning document collection and exclusion
- Mumbai hearing
- October 5
- Relief requested
- Restoration of deleted voters, cancellation of SIR directions, and an independent judicial inquiry
- Investigation cited
- An Indian Express investigation into the SIR exercise
Quotes
Bombay High Court Kolhapur circuit bench
The bench of Justices Sharmila U Deshmukh and Neeraj P Dhote hearing the Kolhapur petition.
“Whether it is supposed to go before the Principal Seat (in Mumbai)? What is urgent about it? Is it a PIL? Since it’s a writ petition, what private right do you have against the Election Commission?”
indianexpress.com
“We have filed a writ petition on behalf of the citizens who are voters who feel their rights are being infringed.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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