The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea seeking immediate intervention over the alleged exclusion of names from the electoral roll following demolition and relocation in Lucknow. The Bench of Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, directed the district election officers to ascertain the facts and take remedial steps as per law.

Sr Adv MR Shamshad, appearing for the petitioners, claimed that they had been residing for decades in Akbar Nagar, Lucknow, and demolition drives carried out in September 2023 led to their displacement. According to them, their names, which allegedly appeared in earlier electoral rolls, were being excluded during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise on the grounds that they no longer possessed an identifiable residence at the original location.

It was further argued that a Special SIR had earlier been conducted and that many of the 91 petitioners were part of that exercise. It was submitted that enumeration forms were not being issued to them and that, despite representations, no remedial action had been taken.

The Court clarified that it was not inclined to undertake a factual inquiry under Article 32.

“We are only on the question of a factual inquiry. For factual inquiry, you can go to the High Court.”

The Court directed the District Election Officer, Lucknow, to ascertain the facts from the representation stated to have been submitted by the petitioners and to take remedial action in accordance with law.

At the same time, the Bench made it clear that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the grievance and that if the petitioners’ concerns were not adequately addressed, they would be at liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court.

The petition was thus disposed of with limited directions, leaving open the question of exclusion from the electoral roll to be examined by the appropriate electoral authorities and, if necessary, by the High Court.