The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a writ petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging aspects of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, subject to an explanation regarding the petitioners’ conduct during the march to the Court premises on October 12, 2026.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the petition filed by Rahul Gandhi & other leaders. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Rahul Gandhi.
The Court indicated that it was not condoning the conduct in question and that one of the petitioners would be asked to explain his conduct. CJI remarked:
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“In item 25 (Rahul Gandhi &Ors Vs. ECI) we are issuing notice and before that we would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on October 12th. Issuing notice does not mean we are condoning that. Issue notice subject to explaining conduct.”
The matter arises from a march led by Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders towards the Supreme Court on October 12, when they sought to submit a petition concerning the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision exercise. The march resulted in a gathering of supporters inside the Supreme Court complex.
On the same day opposition leaders filed a writ petition challenging the aspects of the ECI’s decision-making and implementation of the SIR exercise. The petitioners have sought production of the Commission’s internal records, including files, minutes and notings relating to key decisions, as well as an independent audit of electoral-roll deletions and database access. They have also sought directions to ensure that no voter is deleted without notice and a reasonable opportunity of hearing.
The petition names the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as respondents.
The writ petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by 13 petitioners, including Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha), Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha), Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress MP), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party chief), Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD leader), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena (UBT) MP), M. A. Baby (CPI(M) General Secretary), D. Raja (CPI General Secretary), Mahua Majhi (JMM MP), Supriya Sule (NCP–Sharadchandra Pawar MP), E. T. Mohammed Basheer (IUML MP), Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK chief), and Sajjat Ahmad Kichloo, against the Election Commission of India and its officials, challenging issues relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.