Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Maharashtra SIR Petition Seeks Safeguards Against Wrongful Voter Exclusion
Two leaders from the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi have gone to the Bombay High Court.
They are concerned about how Maharashtra is checking and updating its voter list.
They say some voters may be marked absent, shifted, dead or duplicate.
Other voters may be placed in a category where their forms could not be collected.
The leaders worry that eligible people could be removed without being told or allowed to explain.
They are not asking the court to stop the revision.
Instead, they want clear rules, information in several languages and both online and offline ways to correct records.
They also want a fair way for people to appeal if they are removed.
Two Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi leaders approached the Bombay High Court over Maharashtra’s electoral-roll revision process.
The petition seeks disclosure of the order, recorded reasons, methodology and legal basis for the Special Intensive Revision.
The petitioners are concerned that voters classified as ASDD or having uncollectable forms could be excluded without notice or a hearing.
They seek multilingual instructions, equal online and physical verification options, and an effective appeals mechanism.
The draft electoral roll is scheduled for August 31, with the final roll due on November 4, according to the petition.
- Who
- Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi Youth President Sagar Ramesh Gawai and Rafique Ilahi Khan, represented by advocate Hitendra Gandhi.
- What
- They filed a Bombay High Court petition seeking transparency and safeguards in Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The petition was reported on September 24, 2026; the draft roll is scheduled for August 31 and the final roll for November 4.
- Where
- The matter was brought before the Bombay High Court in Maharashtra.
- Why
- The petitioners fear eligible voters could be wrongly excluded without individual notice, a hearing or a reasoned order.
- Petitioners
- Sagar Ramesh Gawai and Rafique Ilahi Khan
- Political organisation
- Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Revision exercise
- Special Intensive Revision of Maharashtra electoral rolls
- Voter classifications cited
- Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate (ASDD), and Uncollectable Enumeration Form
- Draft electoral roll
- Scheduled for publication on August 31
- Final electoral roll
- Scheduled for publication on November 4