India's Supreme Court has issued a significant notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and other parties, responding to a petition filed by prominent opposition leaders. The petition, led by Rahul Gandhi and the INDI alliance, challenges the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging widespread voter deletions.
The apex court's directive specifically seeks responses from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. This move underscores the judiciary's scrutiny of the electoral process, especially concerning the integrity of voter lists.
The opposition's petition claims that the SIR process has resulted in the deletion of numerous legitimate voters, potentially impacting future elections. The Supreme Court's notice demands clarity and accountability from the electoral body regarding these serious allegations.
In a related development, the top court also issued notices to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and other leaders concerning a separate petition. This counter-petition addresses the INDI bloc's recent march to the Supreme Court itself, which was undertaken to protest the alleged SIR irregularities. The court's action indicates a dual focus: investigating the electoral roll claims while also acknowledging the context of the opposition's public protest.