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 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI),
LiveLaw reported. The body, named the Independent Commission of Former Judges on the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls, is meant to function with complete autonomy.
Commission Composition
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur will chair the Commission. The other members are former Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Patnaik, former Jammu & Kashmir High Court Chief 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 about the design, implementation and consequences of the SIR exercise undertaken by the ECI.
Scope of Inquiry
The Commission will independently examine whether the exercise ensured that every eligible citizen remained on the electoral rolls while ineligible entries were properly excluded. Its inquiry will cover the constitutional and statutory validity of the SIR exercise, the methodology followed and the overall impact on eligible voters.
Public Hearings and Supporting Teams
The Commission will hold public hearings across the country through full and regional benches. It will hear testimonies from affected citizens, civil society groups and experts.
Two support teams will assist its work. A dedicated Research Wing will collate and analyse data on additions and deletions from electoral rolls across the country and place its findings before the Commission. A Legal Support Team will examine the relevant legislation, notifications and verification processes to assess whether they comply with constitutional safeguards.
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, will provide legal assistance to the Commission.
Independence and Operational Support
The press release states that the Commission will retain sole responsibility for its findings and recommendations. Neither the LAFC, as the sponsoring organisation, nor the supporting committees will influence the substantive decisions or conclusions of the former judges. A coordination committee and secretariat housed at the LAFC will provide operational support to the Commission.
Timeline
The Commission aims to complete its inquiry and release its final report to the public by December 2026.
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