After SC Boost, EC Pushes Ahead With Nationwide SIR Rollout

A day after the Supreme Court remarks backing its autonomy, the Election Commission (ECI) has filed two affidavits in the apex court, mentioning that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise will

be undertaken across the entire country.The poll body said the schedule for the nationwide rollout will be issued “in due course,” calling the move part of its “constitutional mandate” to maintain the integrity of electoral rolls.The affidavits were filed a day after the Supreme Court, while hearing objections related to SIR in other states, observed that such exercises fall squarely within the ECI’s policy domain.

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“These are domain, prerogative and policy decision of ECI. We can’t intervene beyond a point on issues like where all they want the SIR done. In a particular state where SIR was started, we have monitored. Rest of the states — it’s domain of ECI,” the court had said.

‘In Due Course’ Schedule For Nationwide SIR

In its first affidavit - filed in response to a plea by advocate Ashwini Upadhyaya seeking a time schedule for SIR in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry - the EC stated that it had already decided to begin the process across India.The Commission cited its June 24, 2025 order, which declared the decision to undertake a pan-India SIR starting with Bihar.“The schedule for the entire country is to be issued in due course,” the affidavit noted, adding that the exercise is necessary for the “discharge of the Commission’s constitutional mandate” to revise electoral rolls before general or assembly elections.Reiterating its stance, the poll body said the decision aims to “protect the integrity of electoral rolls” and ensure that only eligible voters are included.

‘Aadhaar Not Proof Of Citizenship’

The second affidavit, also filed in response to a plea by Upadhyaya, addressed concerns over the use of Aadhaar in the voter verification process.The petition had sought modification of the Supreme Court’s earlier order dated September 8, 2025, which allowed Aadhaar to be accepted as the 12th enumerated document for voter identification.Clarifying its position, the EC told the court it had already issued instructions to accept Aadhaar “as proof of identity” for inclusion or exclusion from the revised voter list - but not as proof of citizenship. “Aadhaar will only be proof of identity, not citizenship,” the affidavit said.The Commission stated that it is “conscious of its responsibilities to ensure that the purity and integrity of the electoral roll is maintained and only the eligible persons as per Article 326, i.e. of 18 years of age and citizen of India and fulfilling the residency requirement, are enrolled in the electoral roll.”Stating that “voting rights are only for citizens of India,” the ECI said it is not opposed to the use of Aadhaar as an identification document but will continue to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate and constitutionally compliant.