Supreme Court defers hearing on pleas challenging ECI’s SIR of electoral rolls to January 13

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 8, 2026) deferred to January 13 the final hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to undertake the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several States, including Bihar.

Descent into farce: On the Election Commission of India, the SIR

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which had fixed the pleas for hearing during the day, said it will resume the proceedings on Tuesday (January 13).

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll panel, was to resume advancing his arguments in the case.

On January 6, the Election Commission had told the Bench that it has the power and competence to undertake SIR of the electoral rolls, besides there is a constitutional duty to ensure that no foreigners are registered as voters.

The pleas challenge the EC’s decision to undertake the SIR exercise in several States, including Bihar, have raised significant constitutional questions on the scope of the poll panel’s powers, citizenship and the right to vote.