The Supreme Court orders the Election Commission to publish names in Tamil Nadu’s ‘logical discrepancy’ voter lists, giving citizens 10 days to correct errors raising questions about how many eligible voters could be affected.
SC orders poll panel to publish 'discrepancy' lists on pleas
Chennai: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publicly display names of people listed under the ‘logical discrepancy’ category in Tamil Nadu, following pleas challenging the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to ensure transparency and accuracy in voter lists ahead of elections.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant instructed that the discrepancy lists be made available at gram panchayat bhawans, Taluka offices of sub-divisions, and ward offices in urban areas across Tamil Nadu.
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Individuals whose names appear in the lists can submit documents or objections either in person or through a representative. The ECI has set a period of 10 days for filing corrections or objections.
The court also directed the district collector in Tamil Nadu to ensure adequate staff deployment for the smooth functioning of the SIR process.
Authorities have been tasked with ensuring the exercise is conducted efficiently and without disruptions. The state police and DGP are expected to maintain law and order during the revision process to prevent any issues.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had issued similar directions for West Bengal, ordering the ECI to publish names of 13.6 million voters with logical discrepancies in the state’s electoral rolls.
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A plea had requested that the same approach be extended to Tamil Nadu. The court noted that once uniform guidelines have been established for one state, there is no reason they cannot be applied to another.
The SIR process is part of the ECI’s continuous effort to update voter rolls and remove inconsistencies. By publishing the discrepancy lists publicly, the Election Commission aims to give citizens a direct opportunity to verify and correct their entries, strengthening the integrity of the electoral process.
With elections approaching, authorities are under pressure to ensure that no eligible voter is left out due to administrative errors, and that all updates to the rolls are carried out in a transparent and orderly manner.
