Plea in SC seeks special roll revision before every election

New Delhi: A plea seeking directions to the Election Commission, the Centre and state governments to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at regular intervals has been filed in the Supreme Court.

The petitioner, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, has sought directions to ECI to conduct SIR of electoral rolls at regular intervals, particularly before parliamentary, state assembly and local body elections. The plea also seeks a direction to all state governments to take action against those who help infiltrators by providing fake documents.

The plea contends that it is the duty of the Centre, state and ECI to conduct SIR of voter lists and give a strong message that India is determined to fight against illegal infiltration.

"Executive action should be taken to warn corrupt people who help infiltrators that betrayal of public trust will no longer be tolerated,", the plea argues.

Upadhyay mentioned the plea on Tuesday before a division bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi seeking permission to serve it to the respondents and listing on July 10, along with petitions challenging the SIR of Bihar electoral rolls. The bench, however, said the registry will decide on listing once the defects are cured.

A clutch of pleas challenging the ECI's decision to carry out a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections are slated to come up for hearing on July 10.