DMK challenges Tamil Nadu voter list errors in Supreme Court
The DMK has contested the Election Commission’s directive ordering a state-wide revision of Tamil Nadu’s voter lists.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across Tamil Nadu. The party has argued that the order is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and could lead to large-scale disenfranchisement of genuine voters in the state.
The petition, filed by RS Bharathi — DMK’s Organising Secretary and a former Rajya Sabha member — seeks to quash the ECI’s order dated October 27, which extended the SIR The DMK contends that the order goes beyond the powers granted to the Election Commission under existing laws, including the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (ROPA), and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
According to the party, Tamil Nadu has already completed a Special Summary Revision (SSR) between October 2024 and January 2025. That exercise, conducted under the regular supervision of the Election Commission, included additions of new voters and deletion of ineligible names. The DMK argues that since the voter list has been continuously updated since then, ordering another full-scale verification so soon is both redundant and arbitrary.
The DMK’s petition further argues that the ECI’s decision violates several constitutional provisions, including Articles 14 (right to equality), 19 (freedom of expression), 21 (right to life and liberty), 325, and 326 (which guarantee universal adult franchise). The party fears that the SIR could result in the wrongful exclusion of thousands of legitimate voters, especially from marginalised and rural communities.
Tracing the issue’s origin, the plea points out that the ECI had first ordered a Special Intensive Revision in Bihar in June 2025. That move, too, has been legally challenged before the Supreme Court by civil society groups such as the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Federation for Indian Women (NFIW).
The DMK also questioned the legality of the SIR procedure itself, arguing that the steps outlined by the Election Commission — such as door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), distribution of special forms, and subjective recommendations on inclusion or exclusion of names — are not provided for under any law or rule.
The party has also criticised the restricted list of acceptable identification documents under the SIR. Common IDs such as ration cards, PAN cards, and even voter ID cards have been excluded, while voters are being asked to present one of just 13 approved documents. Aadhaar, the petition notes, was added to the list only after a separate Supreme Court intervention in the Bihar case.
Lastly, the DMK has called the timeline for completing the SIR “unrealistic and arbitrary.” The Commission has directed that the entire enumeration and verification process be wrapped up within two months — a period that coincides with Tamil Nadu’s monsoon season and the Pongal festival, making the task logistically difficult.