The Supreme Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the Election Commission's decision to use 2002 as the base year for the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Sikkim. The court noted that since 2002 has been kept as the base year across the country, it will not interfere with the Election Commission’s decision.
The Supreme Court, on Monday, dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the Election Commission’s decision to keep 2002 as the base year for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Sikkim. This decision was reported by Press Trust of India (PTI).
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing the plea filed by a Sikkim-based non-governmental organisation, seeking a direction to the poll panel to consider 1993 as the base year instead of 2002. It is important to note that Sikkim is among the 16 states where the voter roll revision is underway in the third phase of SIR.
While the draft electoral roll for the state was released on July 5, the final list is scheduled to be published on September 6. The court stated that since 2002 has been kept as the base year across the country, it will not interfere with the Election Commission’s decision.
The petitioner’s lawyer contended that Sikkim’s distinct demographic composition set it apart from other states. Live Law reported that the lawyer further argued that the state’s ‘population data did not correspond with the electoral data’. However, the bench said those included in the 2002 electoral roll had subsequently voted in elections held in Sikkim.
The petitioner was advised to take up the matter with the poll panel and seek a 'reasonable exemption' for the state.
Source:
Scroll.in
