The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to halt the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the state’s upcoming local body elections, turning down a plea by the state government seeking a temporary stay.
Justice V G Arun noted that similar issues raised by other states are already under consideration before the Supreme Court. Observing that judicial discipline required deference to the apex court, he advised the state to pursue its grievance there. The court also clarified that the government may approach the High Court again depending on the outcome before the Supreme Court.
The state government argued that the State Election Commission had scheduled elections on December 9 and 11, coinciding directly with the SIR exercise. As per its submissions, the conduct of elections would require roughly 1.76 lakh polling personnel and around 68,000 security staff. Running the SIR simultaneously would need an additional 25,668 officials, creating what the government described as an unmanageable administrative burden that could disrupt normal functioning.
The Election Commission of India opposed the request for postponement, informing the court that 55 percent of the enumeration work had already been completed. It assured the bench that the entire revision process would be finished by December 4. The remaining work involved obtaining electors’ signatures on pre-filled enumeration forms—an activity that, the Commission warned, could be adversely affected if the High Court intervened at this stage.
With these submissions, the court declined to stay the SIR, leaving the state government to seek relief before the Supreme Court.
