Andhra Pradesh Local Body Polls: SC Clarifies Which Electoral Rolls Will Apply After SIR

The Supreme Court has clarified that elections to panchayats and urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh can be held using the revised electoral rolls prepared after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) if they are published before the State Election Commission notifies the elections. If the revised rolls are not published by then, the elections must be conducted using the existing electoral rolls.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order on October 9 while disposing of an appeal filed by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party against the State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, and others.

The clarification came after the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in a judgment dated October 1, directed the State Election Commission to expeditiously commence the process of holding elections to Panchayat Raj institutions and urban local bodies, preferably within six weeks.

The Supreme Court took note of a September 30 press note issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which proposed completing the SIR of electoral rolls in Andhra Pradesh and publishing the final rolls on October 16. With the State Election Commission yet to notify the elections, the question was which electoral rolls would apply if the revised rolls were published before or after the election notification.

What does the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act say?

The Supreme Court examined Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, which governs the preparation of electoral rolls for gram panchayat elections.

Under the provision, the electoral roll for a gram panchayat must comprise the relevant part of the electoral roll for the corresponding Assembly constituency, published under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as revised or amended up to the prescribed qualifying date.

Section 11 also provides for changes made to Assembly electoral rolls before the election notification to be incorporated into the gram panchayat electoral roll. Amendments, transpositions or deletions of entries, as well as the inclusion of new voters under Sections 22 and 23 of the 1950 Act, must be carried over to the gram panchayat roll. Newly included names are to be added to the portion relating to the last ward.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court had directed that the electoral rolls for the local body elections conform to Section 11 of the 1994 Act. The Supreme Court noted that the state has separate laws governing these elections, including the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965, and the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1955.

Supreme Court clarifies which electoral rolls will apply

In view of the ongoing SIR exercise, the Supreme Court laid down two alternatives for conducting the elections.

If the ECI publishes the final electoral rolls following the SIR before the State Election Commission issues the election notification, the revised rolls will be treated as the final electoral rolls for the elections.

However, if the revised rolls are not published before the election notification for any reason, the elections must be conducted using the previously existing electoral rolls, in accordance with Sections 11 and 12 of the 1994 Act.

During the hearing, senior counsel appearing for the State Election Commission informed the court that the elections would be notified within the period granted by the high court.

The Supreme Court disposed of the appeal with this clarification. Pending applications, if any, were also disposed of.

Case Title: Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party Vs State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh & Ors

Bench: CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana 

Date of Judgment: October 09, 2026