Karnataka Election Commission Faces Supreme Court Challenge Over SIR Voter List Clarifications

Petitioners, including writer Devanuru Mahadev, historian Ramachandra Guha and retired Major General S. G. Vambatkere, have asked the Karnataka High Court to order the state Election Commission to extend the Special Revision of Electoral Roll (SIR) period by one to three months. Their public‑interest petition highlights confusion over "logical discrepancies" in the draft voter list and the lack of notices to voters flagged under the ASD‑DDO category, which could affect up to eight million people.

The state government has submitted queries to the Election Commission, but no response has been received. The petitioners argue that, while the Supreme Court has already clarified the legal validity of the SIR process, the commission’s silence on how to treat these discrepancies leaves voters uncertain. The court has adjourned the hearing to Tuesday, July 28, to allow the Commission to present its guidance as directed by the Supreme Court.

The case underscores broader concerns about electoral transparency and the administrative handling of voter‑list corrections ahead of upcoming elections in Karnataka.