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Bombay High Court Defers Maharashtra Voter Roll Revision Plea
A group asked the Bombay High Court to protect voters while Maharashtra updates its voter lists.
They said many people could be wrongly left off the lists and wanted the court to pause changes.
The court did not make that order.
It said the Supreme Court is already considering related cases, so it would wait for those proceedings.
The petitioners say they are not trying to stop the update, but want clearer rules and ways for people to check their details.
The case will be heard again in four weeks.
Maharashtra plans to publish its final voter list on November 4.
The Bombay High Court refused interim relief in a challenge to Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The bench said it would await the Supreme Court proceedings and avoid parallel litigation.
Petitioners sought a three-month status quo on electoral rolls and asked that names not be deleted while their plea was considered.
They alleged that about 2.10 crore voters could face exclusion without required notices, hearings or reasoned orders.
The hearing was adjourned for four weeks; publication of the final roll is scheduled for November 4.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court heard a petition filed by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Youth President Sagar Ramesh Gawai and Rafique Ilahi Khan.
- What
- The court refused interim orders to pause or maintain the status quo during Maharashtra’s electoral roll revision.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- The court ruled on October 5, 2026, and adjourned the hearing for four weeks.
- Why
- The court said the Supreme Court was already considering related challenges and it would avoid parallel proceedings.
Petitioners
Court’s procedural position
Interim pause or protection
Petitioners
The petitioners sought a status quo on the rolls and asked that no voter names be deleted while the petition was pending.
Court’s procedural position
The court declined to issue interim orders, saying it would follow judicial propriety and await the Supreme Court proceedings.
Concerns about possible voter exclusion
Petitioners
The petitioners alleged that voters marked absent, shifted, dead, duplicate or with uncollectable forms could be excluded without notices, hearings or reasoned orders.
Court’s procedural position
The court did not rule on the merits of those concerns at this hearing and deferred consideration of the petition.
Purpose of the petition
Petitioners
The petitioners said they were not seeking to halt the revision or challenge the Election Commission’s authority, but wanted transparency and fair verification access.
Court’s procedural position
The court said related challenges were already before the Supreme Court and parallel litigation would serve no purpose at this stage.
Key facts
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Maharashtra electoral rolls
- Court
- Bombay High Court bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna
- Petitioners
- Sagar Ramesh Gawai and Rafique Ilahi Khan
- Requested interim relief
- A three-month status quo on electoral rolls, limits on distribution of revised rolls, and no deletions while the petition was considered
- Claim raised
- Petitioners said nearly 2.10 crore voters could face exclusion under specified categories
- Next hearing
- Adjourned for four weeks
- Final roll publication
- Scheduled for November 4
Quotes
Chief Justice MC Tripathi
Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and member of the bench hearing the petition.
“There are restraining orders already… No purpose will be served by a parallel litigation. Let the Supreme Court hear the matter first and we will consider it later.”
freepressjournal.in
“We are not going to pass any such orders. We will follow judicial propriety.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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