The Supreme Court of India on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission and others on a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders over alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the poll panel’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The move came as the court took up the matter at a hearing on October 15 — a day after the petition was cleared for hearing (GlobalDeskNews reported the listing yesterday).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the poll panel, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, PTI reported. The court also issued notice to Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and others on a plea against their march to the apex court, while observing that nobody can browbeat the judiciary.
The dual notices — one to the Election Commission, one to the petitioners themselves — set the tone for what is shaping up to be a closely watched legal battle over the integrity of India’s voter lists.
What the Rahul Gandhi SIR plea asks the Supreme Court to decide
The petition, filed on October 12 by Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders and registered by the Supreme Court Registry on October 13 after initial procedural defects were addressed, challenges the Election Commission’s decisions relating to the SIR of electoral rolls. It is registered as W.P.(C) No. 001351/2026.
The petitioners include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, among others — 13 petitioners in all.
It seeks a judicial examination of whether the decisions were taken in accordance with Article 324 of the Constitution, the 2023 law governing the Election Commission, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in T.N. Seshan vs Union of India.
Among the reliefs sought, the petition asks the court to ensure that no elector is deleted without notice and a reasonable opportunity of hearing. It also seeks the publication of booth-wise lists of deleted electors, along with the reasons for deletion and demographic details.
“Nobody can browbeat judiciary”: CJI questions the march to court
While issuing notice, the bench made it clear that agreeing to hear the petitions did not mean it had accepted the petitioners’ arguments. The judges also raised a separate concern about the conduct of one petitioner, accepting that notice only provisionally until the petitioner explains his conduct at the next hearing.
“We are issuing notice … Tagging with pending cases. But we would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct,” the bench said.
During the hearing, some lawyers referred to the Congress leader’s march to the apex court over the alleged irregularities in the SIR. “Nobody can browbeat judiciary. We are not sitting in ivory towers,” the bench observed.
Gandhi and several other opposition leaders had marched to the apex court to file the petition related to the SIR on Monday. Delhi has witnessed several protests demanding the resignation of the CEC over alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision, and a separate contempt case over the Delhi curbs of October 10 has run alongside this week’s proceedings.
Apology exchange, Jantar Mantar plea and Owaisi petitions
The hearing also touched the parallel contempt matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to the unconditional apology tendered by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan in a contempt matter, submitting that tendering an unconditional apology does not mean that actions cannot be defended and that it is a part of procedure.
The bench told Mehta that it is not taking cognisance of media reports that authorities tendered unconditional apologies before the court. The contempt case pertained to alleged violation of the apex court’s direction to ensure no “complete prohibition” on Metro and train services in Delhi in the wake of the October 10 protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party.
The top court also issued notices to the Centre and others on various pleas related to the Election Commission filed by leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi. It also agreed to examine a plea challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.
Why it matters
The SIR exercise is reshaping voter lists across several states, and the Opposition’s central claim is that legitimate voters are being deleted. By issuing notice rather than dismissing the plea at the threshold, the Supreme Court has put the Election Commission on notice that the process will face judicial scrutiny. At the same time, the court’s sharp words about the march to the court signal that it will not tolerate political pressure on the bench — even from the petitioners it has agreed to hear.
What happens next
The notices to the ECI, the CEC and the two election commissioners were tagged with pending cases, meaning the challenge will proceed alongside existing SIR-related litigation. One petitioner will have to explain his conduct at the next hearing, when the court will take the matter forward. Watch for the Commission’s response — and for whether the Opposition’s demand for booth-wise deletion lists gains judicial traction.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court issued notice to the ECI, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and ECs Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on the opposition’s SIR challenge.
- The court also issued notice to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others over their march to the court, warning that nobody can browbeat the judiciary.
- One petitioner’s notice was accepted only provisionally; the bench wants an explanation of his conduct at the next hearing.
- The plea, W.P.(C) No. 001351/2026, seeks booth-wise lists of deleted voters and a check on the ECI’s decisions under Article 324.
- The court also agreed to examine a plea against the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
- The notices were tagged with pending cases; the next hearing will take the challenge forward.
FAQs
What is the SIR of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise by the Election Commission of India to revise electoral rolls. The Opposition alleges the ongoing revision has led to large-scale voter deletions, while the Commission has defended its process.
Who filed the petition before the Supreme Court?
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut. There are 13 petitioners in all.
What did the Supreme Court do on October 15?
A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the ECI, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and two election commissioners, seeking their response. It tagged the plea with pending cases and questioned one petitioner’s conduct.
Why did the court warn against “browbeating” the judiciary?
Some lawyers referred to the Opposition leaders’ march to the Supreme Court when filing the petition on October 12. The bench observed that nobody can browbeat the judiciary, adding that the judges are “not sitting in ivory towers.”
What reliefs does the petition seek?
A judicial examination of the ECI’s SIR decisions under Article 324, the 2023 Election Commission law and the Seshan ruling; a guarantee that no elector is deleted without notice and a hearing; and booth-wise lists of deleted electors with reasons and demographic details.
What is W.P.(C) No. 001351/2026?
It is the Supreme Court registration number of the petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc leaders on October 12 and registered on October 13 after procedural defects were addressed.
What about the Jantar Mantar plea?
The apex court agreed to examine a plea challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site — a separate matter heard on the same day.
By GlobalDeskNews Staff | 15 October 2026
Sources
- ThePrint / PTI — “SC issues notice to EC on Rahul Gandhi’s plea on SIR ‘irregularities’” (15 October 2026) — theprint.in
- New Indian Express — “SC issues notice to ECI on SIR, voter deletions; pulls up Rahul Gandhi, others over court march” (15 October 2026) — newindianexpress.com
- The Statesman — “Supreme Court issues notice to ECI, Gyanesh Kumar on Rahul Gandhi and India bloc’s plea against SIR” (15 October 2026) — thestatesman.com
- Hindustan Times — “SC Delhi protest hearing LIVE” (15 October 2026) — hindustantimes.com
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