Sikkim SIR: Supreme Court Backs EC’s 2002 Base Year, Rejects Plea for 1993

Sikkim SIR: Supreme Court Backs EC’s 2002 Base Year, Rejects Plea for 1993

New Delhi, Aug 17: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with the Election Commission of India’s decision to use 2002 as the base year for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Sikkim.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO seeking directions to the Election Commission to adopt 1993 instead of 2002 as the base year for the SIR exercise in the state.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court noted that the Election Commission has uniformly adopted 2002 as the base year for the ongoing SIR exercise across states, since the last such intensive revision of electoral rolls was carried out that year.

In view of the Election Commission's uniform approach, the bench said it was not inclined to interfere with the decision or issue directions for a separate base year specifically for Sikkim.

However, the Supreme Court left open another avenue for the petitioner. The bench observed that the petitioner could approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) and seek the creation of a reasonable exemption, placing its concerns before the poll panel for consideration.

The petition had sought the adoption of 1993 as the reference year for Sikkim instead of 2002 amid the ongoing revision of the state's electoral rolls.

With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, the Election Commission's decision to retain 2002 as the base year for Sikkim's SIR exercise will continue to remain in effect, subject to any exemption or relief that may subsequently be considered by the poll panel.