Today, On 14th November, The Kerala High Court refused to entertain the State’s plea to defer the SIR, saying judicial discipline requires the matter to be taken before the Supreme Court. The court closed the petition while allowing action based on pending cases.
The Kerala High Court declined to consider the State government’s request to postpone the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Justice VG Arun stated that the High Court must adhere to judicial discipline, as similar petitions regarding SIR in other states are currently pending before the Supreme Court.
As a result, the single-judge bench permitted the State to approach the Supreme Court.
The Court remarked,
“Judicial discipline comity requires this court to not entertain this petition. Therefore this writ petition is closed leaving it open for the petitioner to move the Supreme Court or approach this court depending on the outcome of the petitions pending before the Supreme Court,”
The Kerala government filed the plea due to the forthcoming panchayat elections in the State. According to the plea, conducting these elections would necessitate around 1,76,000 government personnel and 68,000 security personnel.
The SIR would also require an additional 25,668 personnel, arguing that this dual demand would overextend the State’s human resources.
The State explained,
“The pool of trained and election-experienced staff is finite, which constrains real-world deployment. Parting with such number of officers for simultaneous SIR and LSGI elections is a near impossibility, apart from possibly putting the State to an administrative impasse,”
Furthermore, while highlighting a constitutional obligation to conduct the panchayat elections before December 21 this year, the State pointed out that there is no similar urgency associated with the SIR.
Citing Section 21(2) of the Representation of People Act of 1950, they noted that electoral rolls must be revised before each general election to the House of People or a State Legislative Assembly unless directed otherwise by the ECI.
Since the next general elections in Kerala are not due until before May 24, 2026, the State argued that there is no pressing need to conduct the SIR concurrently with the panchayat elections.
Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup, representing the Kerala government, assured the court that the State is not obstructing the SIR but is merely requesting a postponement.
In contrast, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, argued that the SIR in Kerala has been scheduled in anticipation of the upcoming assembly elections next year. He dismissed the State’s concerns about administrative burdens as unfounded, pointing out that the State Election Commission did not express similar worries.
While reserving the ruling on the matter, Justice VG Arun indicated that the issue should be brought before the Supreme Court, as it is already reviewing petitions that challenge the SIR in other states. The Supreme Court is currently addressing petitions against SIR in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The ECI first mandated a Special Intensive Revision for Bihar in June 2025. Several petitions, including those from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Federation for Indian Women (NFIW), are pending before the Supreme Court contesting that directive.
Also Read: BREAKING| Bihar SIR Row: Supreme Court to Hear Case on November 11
Despite these ongoing challenges, on October 27, 2025, the ECI extended the SIR to other States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala.
The SIR initiatives in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have been contested in the Supreme Court, which issued notices on those petitions on November 11.
In contrast, the SIR in Bihar has been completed, as the Supreme Court did not stay the process. Ultimately, the SIR processes across these States will be contingent upon the Supreme Court’s decisions regarding the pending petitions.
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