Congress, IUML Move Supreme Court to Stop Special Interim Revision of Voters’ List in Kerala
Parties say the Election Commission cannot conduct SIR during ongoing local body polls and warn of voter exclusion.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee have jointly approached the Supreme Court seeking an immediate halt to the Special Interim Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Kerala. Both parties argue that the Election Commission of India (ECI) cannot carry out the exercise while the State is preparing for local body elections.
Public anger toward the ECI has been rising across Kerala, especially after a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Kannur, Aneesh George, died by suicide, allegedly due to extreme work pressure linked to the SIR. The incident has sparked widespread protests, with BLOs announcing they will boycott duties on Monday.
The IUML’s writ petition, filed by General Secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, challenges the ECI’s October 27 notification announcing the SIR. The petition calls the decision arbitrary and based on unrealistic deadlines. Kunhalikutty said turning to the courts had become necessary, calling the Commission’s rush to complete the revision “unholy haste.”
IUML State President Syed Sadiqali Thangal also criticised the process, saying there was not enough time for citizens to complete the required documentation. The petition was drafted by IUML MP Advocate Haris Beeran and filed through Advocate R.S. Jena.
The parties argue that the State Election Commission has already notified the local body polls, scheduled for December 9 and 11, while the draft roll from the SIR is set to be published on December 4. Conducting a major revision of the voters’ list during an active election cycle, they say, undermines the stability and integrity of the electoral process.
The IUML further points out that the ECI ordered the SIR without any evidence of fraud, duplication, or systemic errors in Kerala’s current electoral roll. The petition states that the Representation of the People Act, 1950 does not permit large-scale deletion or neutralisation of an existing roll without specific individual complaints.
The party’s accompanying plea for a stay highlights the death of BLO Aneesh George and claims his suicide was driven by severe workload pressures created by the SIR. Several BLOs have reportedly said they were working long hours—from early morning to late evening, including weekends—and still struggling to finish the distribution of enumeration forms.
According to the petition, the one-month deadline for the SIR is too short, especially during local body elections, and risks harming both officials and voters, including many non-resident Indians. It alleges that the rushed exercise appears designed to exclude voters from the draft roll.
The IUML argues that the SIR violates citizens’ fundamental right to vote and goes against the Constitution and the RP Act.
The Kerala government had earlier approached the Kerala High Court seeking to postpone the SIR until after the local polls, but the court declined to intervene, suggesting the State present its case before the Supreme Court, where similar petitions are already being heard.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also criticised the ECI’s decision, describing the SIR as harmful to democratic processes. He said the use of “outdated lists” and the rush ahead of crucial elections raise serious concerns. In September, the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the ECI to reconsider the SIR, warning that the exercise could affect people’s voting rights.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK has also moved the Supreme Court challenging the SIR in that state, arguing it could lead to widespread disenfranchisement.
