New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding a writ petition that contests the poll authority's decision to implement only a "Special Revision" of the electoral rolls in Assam, rather than pursuing a more thorough "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) prior to the 2026 Assembly elections.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi requested the ECI’s response and scheduled the case for further discussion next Tuesday.

The petition, presented by senior advocate and former President of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association, Mrinal Kumar Choudhury, contends that Assam has been "singled out" for a less comprehensive revision process, despite prior indications from the ECI that SIR would be implemented nationwide.

Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, representing the petitioner, labeled the ECI’s stance as "arbitrary and discriminatory".

He stated, "Assam has been singled out. Nothing is required in Assam. No document required," referring to the fact that under the Special Revision process, voters are not obligated to provide any proof of citizenship, age, or residency, unlike in an SIR where supporting documents are mandatory.

Hansaria cited the Supreme Court’s comments in various rulings, including the Constitution Bench decision in In Re: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which acknowledged substantial demographic shifts in Assam due to infiltration.

He called for an immediate halt to the current revision activities in Assam.

However, the CJI-led bench noted that the ECI might have chosen a different strategy for Assam "because of the special laws applicable in the state, the constitution of foreigners’ tribunals, etc".

They remarked, "They might have done it so. Might be," as the apex court refrained from issuing interim orders without hearing from the ECI.

The petition highlighted that while Bihar was the first state to initiate a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) starting June 24, 2025—resulting in the removal of many ineligible voters—twelve additional states and Union Territories, such as Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, are undergoing the same rigorous process.

The petitioner referenced the ECI’s own directives and sworn statements, including the June 24 order indicating that "Special Intensive Revision" was intended for implementation across the country to uphold the integrity of electoral rolls.

The petition also pointed out that in its July 21 affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the ECI reaffirmed its goal to carry out SIR nationwide. Nevertheless, on November 17, the electoral body issued a separate directive mandating that Assam would only undergo a "Special Revision", which requires Block Level Officers to verify details of existing voters through house visits without necessitating documentation or cross-checking with the last intensive revision conducted in 2005.

"No reason has been provided by the ECI for the exclusive implementation of a Special Revision in Assam, while a Special Intensive Revision is being executed in Bihar and twelve other states," the petition stated, adding that Assam’s demographic characteristics and history of infiltration necessitate an intensive revision constitutionally.

The case will be reviewed next week after the ECI submits its response.