Today, On 29th January, The Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish the names of individuals flagged for logical discrepancies during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Tamil Nadu. This order aims to ensure transparency and compliance.
The Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish the names of individuals flagged for logical discrepancies during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Tamil Nadu.
A Bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi mandated that the names of those on the ‘logical discrepancy’ list be made available at panchayat bhavans, taluka offices, and ward offices.
The Court ordered,
“The names of those who appear are allowed to submit documents in person or through authorised representatives within 10 days from displaying the list of logical discrepancy list which will also contain brief reason of discrepancy,”
The Court expressed hope that the ECI would comply with these directives wherever the SIR process takes place.
Also Read: Why No SIR in Assam? Supreme Court Petition Challenges ECI Decision
Responding to Senior Advocate DS Naidu, who represented the ECI and raised privacy concerns regarding the disclosure of reasons for discrepancies, CJI Kant clarified that only a brief reason, as stated in the notice from the poll body, should be made public alongside the list.
Additionally, the Court instructed district collectors to adhere to ECI directives regarding personnel deployment to facilitate the SIR process smoothly.
The Court said,
“Police chiefs are also directed to ensure that there is no law and order problem created and the entire process is allowed to go on smoothly,”
In 2025, the ECI initiated an SIR in Bihar, prompting multiple petitions challenging its legality, including those from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Federation for Indian Women (NFIW).
Despite these petitions, the ECI continued with the SIR in Bihar as the Supreme Court did not impose a stay.
Earlier, On October 27, 2025, the ECI expanded the SIR to other States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, which led to further challenges.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is among the petitioners contesting the SIR, arguing that its implementation is unconstitutional, exceeds the powers granted to the Election Commission, and contradicts the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (ROPA) and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The DMK contends that the SIR violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution and could lead to the mass disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
They noted that Tamil Nadu had already completed a Special Summary Revision (SSR) between October 2024 and January 2025, during which the voter list was revised to include new electors and remove ineligible names.
Its plea states,
“There is neither necessity nor any exceptional reason to justify a de novo verification of such an extensive nature. The SIR amounts to a colourable exercise of power and is patently arbitrary, unreasonable and illegal,”
A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a thorough process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean up the electoral rolls in a state or Union Territory. During an SIR, every eligible voter’s details are verified, and efforts are made to remove duplicate, fake, or incorrect entries.
Click Here to Read More Reports on SIR