Supreme Court upholds SIR exercise as an advancement towards free and fair elections

New Delhi ( Raghwendra Pratap Singh) :

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as an exercise done by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in furtherance of the Constitutional principle of free and fair elections.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant dismissed the petitioners’ view that SIR was a surreptitious, backdoor move to conduct citizenship screening in the name of cleaning up the electoral roll off aliens.

Supreme Court ruled that the Election Commission exercise did not violate any law or Constitutional provisions. Observing that “SIR is a step towards accurate and inclusive electoral roll”, the Supreme Court said that exercise “breathes life into Constitution”.

The court further added that the ECI did not act outside the statutory powers by exercising SIR. ‘It can’t be said ultra vires because the exercise is different from what is ordinary conducted,’ the court noted.

We are equally satisfied that the object sought to be achieved by the SIR bears a direct nexus to the constitutional goal of free and fair elections,” the Supreme Court said.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pronounced the verdict.The Supreme Court framed the SIR challenge into four questions and then ruled in its favour.

First, whether the SIR was consistent with the constitutional and statutory mandate of the Commission?

Second, If the means adopted by the Commission bear a reasonable nexus with the objectives sought to be achieved?

Third, whether the measures undertaken were necessary and no other alternative existed?

Fourth, whether a fair balance has been maintained between the importance of achieving the stated objective and the limitation imposed upon constitutional rights.