The Lawyers’ Association for Constitution (LAFC) has constituted an independent commission of five former Supreme Court and High Court judges to examine the constitutional validity, methodology and impact of the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The commission, which aims to complete its inquiry and release its final report to the public by December 2026, will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice M.B. Lokur.
The other members of the commission are former Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Patnaik, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Rekha Sharma and former Patna High Court judge Justice Anjana Prakash.
According to a press release issued by the LAFC, the commission has been constituted in response to concerns raised by citizens regarding the design, implementation and consequences of the SIR exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India.
The commission will independently examine whether the SIR exercise has ensured that every eligible citizen remains on the electoral rolls while ineligible entries are properly excluded. Its inquiry will specifically cover the constitutional and statutory validity of the exercise, its methodology and its overall impact on eligible voters.
As part of the inquiry, the commission will conduct public hearings across the country through full and regional benches. These hearings will provide an opportunity for affected citizens, civil society groups and experts to place their testimonies before the commission.
The LAFC has also put in place research and legal mechanisms to assist the commission in its work. A dedicated Research Wing will collate and analyse data relating to additions and deletions from electoral rolls across the country and place its findings before the commission.
A Legal Support Team will examine relevant legislation, notifications and verification processes to assess whether the SIR exercise complies with constitutional safeguards.
Several senior advocates and lawyers will provide legal assistance to the commission. They include senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Chander Uday Singh, Prashanto Chandra Sen and Raju Ramachandran, along with advocates Rebecca Mammen John, Warisha Farasat and Vrinda Grover, among others.
The LAFC has made it clear that the commission will retain sole responsibility for its findings and recommendations. According to the press release, neither the sponsoring organisation nor the supporting committees will influence the substantive decisions or conclusions reached by the former judges.
For providing operational support, a coordination committee and secretariat housed at the LAFC will assist the commission in carrying out its work.
The constitution of the commission places the legality and impact of the SIR exercise under an independent examination by former members of the higher judiciary. Its mandate extends beyond examining the procedure followed during the revision to assessing whether the exercise has adequately protected the position of eligible voters while ensuring that ineligible entries are excluded.
Through its public hearings, data analysis and examination of the relevant legal framework, the commission will undertake an assessment of the SIR exercise and its consequences for eligible voters.
The final findings and recommendations will be the responsibility of the five-member commission, with the inquiry scheduled to be completed and its report made public by December 2026.
