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New Delhi: Actor Vijay’s political outfit Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the exercise violates constitutional guarantees and established legal safeguards.
In its plea, TVK argues that the SIR process breaches protections under Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, while also contradicting Sections 21 and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (ROPA). According to the petition, the SIR amounts to an unlawful “de novo” compilation of voter rolls without recorded reasoning, thereby ignoring statutory conditions under ROPA.
The petition contends that the exercise undermines the principle of continuity of voter registration by enabling removal of names without prior notice or personal hearings, contrary to Supreme Court rulings and safeguards prescribed under Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Raising concerns over the timing and implementation, TVK argues that the SIR coincides with potential flood emergencies in the state, during which government personnel and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) may be required for relief work. The party also alleges inadequate preparation—highlighting the absence of essential documentation, lack of revision lists, and insufficient enumeration forms, describing the process as arbitrary, rushed and poorly planned.
Under Article 14, the party identifies five grounds of alleged discrimination, including restricting eligible identification to 13 secondary documents while excluding widely available primary documents such as EPIC voter cards, ration cards and MGNREGA job cards.
The petition states that economically weaker groups would face disproportionate hardship due to documentary requirements relating to parental or personal birth details. It also criticises extensive discretionary authority granted to Electoral Registration Officers to question citizenship and objects to automatic deletion of names for non-submission of forms.
TVK further argues that the process was introduced abruptly without consulting political parties or informing voters, thereby disadvantaging those unable to arrange documentation in short notice.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), CPI(M) MLA K Selvaperunthagai, and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan have also challenged the SIR. DMK submits that Tamil Nadu already completed a Special Summary Revision between October 2024 and January 6, 2025, with updated rolls published and continuously revised, making a fresh exercise unnecessary. In contrast, the AIADMK has supported the SIR, calling it essential for ensuring electoral integrity and preventing bogus voting.
Similar petitions have been filed in Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matter on November 26. TVK is represented by advocates Dixita Gohil, Pranjal Agarwal, Yash S Vijay (AOR) and Rupali Samuel.
