The Supreme Court has issued notice on a petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader Arvind Kumar Singh assailing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out in Uttar Pradesh.

In addition to seeking quashing of the Election Commission of India’s notification initiating the SIR exercise, Singh has prayed for a three-month extension of the timelines fixed for Enumeration, Updation of Control Tables, preparation of the Draft Electoral Roll, and final publication of the electoral rolls.

The matter was considered by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The Bench passed the order after hearing submissions advanced by Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the petitioner. On request, the Court de-tagged the matter from other petitions challenging SIR exercises across the country and directed that the Uttar Pradesh SIR cases—namely, the present petition and another plea filed by Congress MP Tanuj Punia—be listed for hearing on December 18.

Apart from the Samajwadi Party leader, several political parties and leaders, including DMK, actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), CPI(M), Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, Trinamool Congress (TMC), and others, have approached the Supreme Court challenging similar SIR exercises being conducted in States such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and elsewhere.

In his petition, Singh has specifically questioned the Special Intensive Revision undertaken in Uttar Pradesh. He has sought setting aside of the Election Commission’s notification dated October 27, along with all consequential orders and directions, contending that they are violative of Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution of India, as well as the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The challenge also extends to an order issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh, notifying Presidents and Ministers of national and regional political parties regarding the SIR process.

The petitioner has further sought a direction to the Election Commission of India to ensure that the process of linking Aadhaar cards with EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers is duly undertaken and completed in a comprehensive manner.

Singh has contended that the impugned SIR notification and the consequential directions are arbitrary in nature and are likely to cause grave prejudice to genuine voters in the State. According to him, the exercise has the potential to disenfranchise lakhs of eligible voters, thereby depriving them of their constitutional right to elect their representatives.

Case Title: Arvind Kumar Singh v. Election Commission of India, W.P. (C) No. 1196 of 2025