I.N.D.I.A bloc urges Supreme Court to halt SIR, calls for ballot paper review

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jul 3, 2026: The I.N.D.I.A bloc on Friday alleged that India’s electoral democracy is facing its "gravest threat" under the Modi government, releasing a joint letter sent to the Chief Justice of India seeking the suspension of the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and urging consideration of a return to ballot paper voting.

The eight-page letter, signed by leaders of 24 Opposition parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal, was submitted to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday. It argues that democracy faces "grave consequences" when institutions become "instruments of oppression" and are seen as advancing the government’s agenda.

Releasing the letter, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said the Opposition had made the document public "in the interest of transparency" and expressed hope that the Supreme Court would take urgent steps to restore faith, integrity, and accountability in the electoral process.

The 2,080-word letter criticises the Election Commission (EC), describing the proposed SIR exercise as a "monumental disaster" and accusing the poll body, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, of bias. It also raises concerns over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and alleges that elections in Delhi, Haryana, and Maharashtra were manipulated, while questioning the conduct of elections in West Bengal.

According to the Opposition, the EC has failed to act impartially, alleging that it ignored violations of the Model Code of Conduct and remained silent over what it described as communal statements made by BJP leaders.

The letter strongly opposes the SIR exercise, rejecting claims that it is necessary to address alleged inclusion of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in electoral rolls. It alleges that the revision is intended to benefit the BJP and claims that a similar process in West Bengal resulted in nearly 2.7 million people being deprived of voting rights.

The Opposition urged the Supreme Court to suspend the upcoming SIR process, arguing that such an exercise should not be undertaken close to elections and should instead be conducted well before the next Assembly polls.

The letter also calls for a broader public debate on electoral transparency and urges "serious consideration" of restoring ballot paper voting where appropriate.

Stating that approaching the judiciary was an extraordinary step, the signatories said they had done so because they believe democratic institutions are under strain. They added that while they are not questioning the judiciary, they are seeking judicial intervention to safeguard the integrity of India’s electoral system.