The Supreme Court of India has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, granting additional time for scrutiny of voter records.
The court said the extension was necessary to ensure that eligible voters are not excluded and that all objections and corrections are properly examined before finalizing the updated voter lists. The earlier deadline, which was set to expire in mid February, has now been pushed back by one week.
A bench hearing the matter stressed that the revision process must continue smoothly and without disruption, as accurate electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections. The court also directed authorities to provide adequate manpower to assist Electoral Registration Officers in verifying documents and resolving objections filed by citizens.
The SIR exercise is being carried out by the Election Commission of India across selected states and Union Territories to update voter data, remove duplicate or invalid entries, and include eligible new voters.
The court noted that many citizens had approached it complaining that their names were missing from draft rolls or wrongly deleted. By extending the deadline, the judiciary aimed to safeguard voters’ rights and improve transparency in the revision process.
Following the order, election officials are expected to revise their schedule for publishing the final electoral rolls, allowing more time for verification and corrections.
The decision is seen as a relief for voters who were unable to file claims or objections within the earlier timeframe and reinforces the importance of ensuring an error-free voter list ahead of upcoming elections.
