SIR: Karnataka HC rejects PIL seeking extension of special voter list revision

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jul 28, 2026: The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an extension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in Karnataka from one month to three months.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice KS Hemalekha dismissed the petition, observing that it was premature and that the timeline for conducting the SIR falls within the exclusive domain of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The court stated that the ECI, being a specialised constitutional body, is responsible for conducting the revision process and is competent to address any procedural issues that may arise. It further held that deciding whether the current timeline is adequate is a matter for the ECI and not for judicial intervention at this stage.

The PIL was filed by Kannada author Devanooru Mahadeva, historian Ramachandra Guha, Major General (Retd) S.G. Vombatkere, and Kannada scholar Sabiha Bhoomigowda. The petitioners had challenged the short timeline prescribed for the implementation of the SIR.

During the hearing, the petitioners argued that the requirement of issuing notices before publishing the draft electoral roll, as submitted before the Supreme Court, might not be followed in all cases, raising concerns over procedural safeguards.

The bench was also informed that the Karnataka government had already submitted a representation to the ECI on June 15, 2026, highlighting similar concerns raised in the petition.