UP SIR: Supreme Court Asks ECI To Examine Bulk Form 7 Filing Claims

The Supreme Court on Friday has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to look into allegations of irregularities involving bulk submissions of Form 7 applications during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh.

Form 7 is the application used to seek the removal of a person's name from the electoral roll.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana asked the petitioner before it to submit a note detailing issues to the ECI.

The poll body has been directed to verify the allegations, make the necessary corrections and subsequently place a compliance report before the court.

Today when the matter was taken up, Senior Advocate DS Naidu for ECI told the bench, "Chhattisgarh and Kerala, everything is over. For UP, we were directed to look into allegations of bulk Form 7 being submitted. We have filed the affidavit. Our officers checked, they were false."

When the petitioner stressed on Form 7 issue not being addressed, the CJI said, "Whatever is left out, please give a copy to them. they will file compliance. we will keep pending till issues are addressed

In December last year, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, had flagged large-scale deletions from the electoral rolls, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Sibal informed the Court that nearly 25 lakh names had been deleted from the electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh alone. Highlighting anomalies in the revision process, he submitted that in several cases, the name of the husband appeared on the rolls while that of the wife was missing. He further pointed out that the deadline for completing the SIR exercise was fast approaching.

The petitioner had also questioned the urgency behind the process, pointing out that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are due only in 2027. The counsel submitted that despite the long gap, the Election Commission was not providing adequate time to voters and officials to complete the revision exercise properly.

The petitions challenge the legality and manner of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in various states, with petitioners alleging that the process risks disenfranchising genuine voters.

In May this year, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. A CJI Surya Kant led bench, in its verdict said SIR is not in conflict with the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Rules framed thereunder. "The impugned SIR does not supplant the Representation of the People Act and the Rules. Rather, it breathes life into the constitutional mandate under Article 324 within the precise statutory contours provided by Section 21(3). Therefore, it cannot be said that the Commission has acted in excess of its statutory powers," the CJI read today in court.

Court has further held that the object sought to be achieved by the SIR bears a direct nexus to the constitutional goal of free and fair elections. "Free and fair elections do not rest merely upon the mechanics of polling. They fundamentally depend upon the integrity, accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls, which form the foundation of the democratic process," the bench said.

Case Title: Tanuj Punia v. Election Commission of India

Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Mohana

Hearing Date: October 31, 2026