The plea filed by the State was heard by Justice VG Arun who opined that the issue should be heard by the Supreme Court which is already hearing petitions challenging SIR in other States.
KOCHI — The Kerala High Court on Thrsday syggested the state government to approach the Supreme Court for deferment of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the State.
Hearing the plea moved by Kerala governemnt Justice VG Arun opined that the issue should be heard by the Supreme Court which is already hearing petitions challenging SIR in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
“I still hold the view that it should be for the Supreme Court to decide because all other matters are being considered. I am not saying that there is no power of judicial review vested with this Court. I am only saying that as the matter is under consideration before the Supreme Court, it will be appropriate for this Court, or rather inappropriate for this Court to go into the question as to whether the revision can go on or there should be a deferment of the SIR revision process. The other option is, abide by what the Supreme Court has said and defer the writ proceedings, which will also be of no benefit. Ultimately, if an order is passed, that will hamper the process. This is also a time-bound process and the validity of which is being considered,” the judge remarked orally, according to Bar and Bench.
Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup, appearing for the State government, said that the government is not challenging SIR but is only seeking postponement of the same.
“Kerala has not challenged the validity of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The writ petition is strictly limited to seeking deferment of the SIR in Kerala,” the AG said.
“Wouldn’t it be ideal to take this before Supreme Court? Saying this peculiar aspect that you have pointed out, as far as the State is concerned, because of the ensuing elections. Would it not be better for the Supreme Court?” the judge asked.
The Court eventually proceeded to reserve its verdict in the matter. The order will be pronounced tomorrow.
The Kerala government had approached the High Court seeking a temporary stay on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In its petition, the government has requested that the process be halted, stating that there is no urgent necessity for such an exercise at this stage.
The plea, filed before Justice V.G. Arun, clarifies that the state is not questioning the validity of the SIR but merely seeking its postponement.
In September, the Kerala Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the revision, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warning that its intent and timing raised serious concerns.
CM Vijayan had told the House that while periodic voter roll updates were routine, the intensity and urgency of the current drive appeared “unusual” and could pave the way for a National Register of Citizens (NRC)-style exercise through indirect means.
He accused the Centre of using administrative channels to push politically sensitive agendas that could undermine Kerala’s secular and inclusive fabric.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan had also supported the resolution, calling the SIR a “hurried and ill-conceived move” that risked disenfranchising genuine voters, particularly from marginalised communities.
Earlier this month, an all-party meeting convened by the state government — barring the BJP — urged the government to pursue legal recourse against the revision. — With inputs from IANS
