The Supreme Court of India has sought the Election Commission’s response to a challenge concerning deletions from Maharashtra’s electoral rolls, but declined to extend the claims-and-objections deadline without first hearing the poll body.
The petition, brought by Arun Anandagiri, questions the Special Intensive Revision process and the route offered to people whose names were removed. Senior counsel for the petitioner said affected voters were being directed to use Form 6, which is designed for new enrolments, and argued that an existing voter could be exposed to a false-declaration allegation by completing it.
Chief Justice Surya Kant, sitting with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, orally assured the court that nobody would be prosecuted for using the form in those circumstances. The bench issued notice to the Election Commission and fixed November 5 for the next hearing.
The petitioner alleged that about one-third of names had been deleted and that the proportion was still higher in parts of Mumbai and Pune. Those figures are submissions, not findings. Counsel attributed some deletions to redevelopment and temporary relocation, saying electors had been treated as untraceable when buildings were demolished and residents moved.
The bench did not make a final ruling on the legality of the revision, the deletion figures or the use of Form 6. It also did not grant an ex parte extension. The Chief Justice indicated that the court could issue appropriate directions after considering the Commission’s answer if additional time proved necessary.
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