Rahul Gandhi has now presented a 10-point list of demands.

Bangla Press Desk: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral rolls in India. The petition seeks ten specific forms of relief regarding decisions made by the Election Commission and the electoral roll revision process. These include the submission of SIR-related documents to the court, an investigation into the deletion of names from the electoral rolls, and a temporary suspension of the entire process.
On Monday (October 12), leaders of the opposition alliance 'INDIA' marched towards the Supreme Court accompanied by a large number of supporters. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, sought judicial intervention regarding allegations of irregularities in the electoral roll revision and the election process. However, as Rahul Gandhi could not reach the Supreme Court by 4:30 PM, Congress lawyer S. Prasanna filed the petition on his behalf.
Apart from Rahul Gandhi, several leaders from the opposition alliance participated in the march, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav.
The previous day, Chief Justice Surya Kant had declined to meet Rahul Gandhi, citing the sub-judice nature of the matter. Subsequently, the opposition leaders jointly filed the petition in the Supreme Court. One of the opposition's key demands is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The petition has been listed on the Supreme Court's website under the title 'Rahul Gandhi vs. Election Commission of India'. NDTV has published details regarding the petition.
The 10-point demands made in the petition:
1. Directive to submit all SIR-related documents
A request has been made for the court to direct the Election Commission to submit all documents, agreements, meeting minutes, records of proceedings, and information regarding objections related to the decision to initiate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This includes demands for the submission of access logs for the 'Esinet' and 'ERO-Net' systems, as well as internal notes and documents concerning the decision to launch the SIR on June 24, 2025. The petition emphasizes the need to safeguard the rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution and to ensure the effective implementation of Article 324.
2. Verification of the constitutional validity of SIR-related decisions
The petition seeks a review to determine whether the controversial decisions regarding SIR (Special Summary Revision) align with Article 324 of the Constitution, Section 18 of the *Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023*, and previous Supreme Court judgments. Specifically, it demands an examination of whether the guidelines established in the 1995 *Seshan v. Union of India* case were followed. It also requests the annulment of any decisions made without proper legal authority.
3. Action against responsible officials
The petition seeks directives to take action against individuals responsible for violating constitutional or legal provisions during the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. It also includes a request for action under Section 32 of the *Representation of the People Act, 1950*, where necessary.
4. Resolution of the petitioner's grievances
A directive is sought requiring the Election Commission to make appropriate decisions regarding Rahul Gandhi's current petition and related matters. Simultaneously, it demands that every decision concerning SIR be taken in accordance with Section 18 of the 2023 Act and be duly documented.
5. Aligning Online Form-6 with prescribed rules
The petition requests the Election Commission to ensure that the online Form-6 used for voter registration aligns with the form prescribed under the *Registration of Electors Rules, 1960*. It also demands that no changes deviating from the prescribed form be made.
6. Audit and investigation by an independent committee
The petition proposes the formation of an independent committee—led by a retired Supreme Court judge and comprising technical experts and eminent citizens—to conduct an audit and investigation. It suggests assigning specific tasks to the committee to be completed within a stipulated timeframe. These include—
Conducting an independent investigation and audit regarding the removal and amendment of names from the voter list during the SIR (Special Summary Revision) process.
Reviewing access to the voter list database and the changes made therein; this includes examining the 'EciNet' and 'ERO-Net' systems.
Conducting a comprehensive review of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), covering their technical design and architecture, decisions, policies, procedures, protocols, and aspects of their usage and implementation.
Taking into account international best practices to ensure free and fair elections.
7. Disclosure of names and reasons for voter exclusion
A request has been made to direct the Election Commission to publish—on a booth-wise basis—the names of all individuals removed from the voter list during the SIR process. Additionally, there is a demand to disclose the reasons for each removal, as well as the age and gender-based classification of the excluded voters. The proposal also calls for establishing effective measures to re-include the names of individuals who are eligible to be on the voter list.
8. No removal of names without notice and hearing
A directive has been sought to ensure that no voter's name is removed from the list without providing the legally required notice and a reasonable opportunity for a hearing. Furthermore, a demand has been raised to allow eligible individuals—particularly in states like Punjab where elections are upcoming—the opportunity to apply for inclusion in the voter list up to the statutory deadline.9. Plea for an interim stay on the ongoing SIR process
An interim order has been sought to stay the ongoing 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls across all states until the issues raised in the petition are considered and resolved. This demand is based on the grounds of protecting the rights of eligible voters and upholding the fairness and credibility of the electoral process.
10. Plea for other necessary directions
The Supreme Court has also been requested to issue any other necessary or additional orders—considering the circumstances of the case and relevant factors—to ensure the transparency of the electoral process and safeguard the voting rights of every eligible citizen.
Through this petition, Rahul Gandhi has essentially sought judicial intervention regarding the legal validity of the SIR process, the transparency of the procedure for deleting names from the electoral rolls, and the protection of eligible citizens' voting rights. However, details regarding the court's decision on the claims raised in the petition have not been included in this report. Source: NDTV
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