A escalating legal battle over the large-scale deletion of citizens from electoral rolls in Maharashtra has reached the Supreme Court. Acting on a writ petition challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise across the state, the highest judicial forum has issued formal notices to key election and administrative bodies. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana examined the matter and directed the Election Commission, the Union government, the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, and the state government to place their respective replies on record. The bench has scheduled the next hearing for November 5.
Massive Deletions Across the State Challenged
The petition was brought before the court by petitioner Arun Anandagiri, represented by senior advocate Arvind P. Datar. Presenting the grievance before the bench, the senior counsel pointed out that Maharashtra accounts for roughly 9 crore registered voters. However, following the release of the updated draft voter roll, an estimated 33 percent of voters, translating to around 3 crore individuals, found their names struck off the rolls. The counsel emphasized that striking off citizens on such an unprecedented scale raises serious concerns about procedural fairness and the disenfranchisement of rightful voters.
Urban Concentration in Mumbai and Pune
The hearing highlighted severe discrepancies in Maharashtra's key urban agglomerations. Senior advocate Arvind Datar stated that in major economic centers like Mumbai and Pune, nearly 40 percent of eligible voters are currently missing from the updated rolls. Furthermore, a substantial number of registered individuals have been served official notices citing logical inconsistencies. The petitioner stressed that these administrative queries have left countless residents confused and distressed as they struggle to understand why their standing registration records were flagged or removed.
Objections Raised Over Mandating Form-6
The petitioner raised sharp objections to the procedural mechanism being imposed on previously registered voters. Those whose names were dropped from the draft list are being directed to submit Form-66 or Form-6 in order to secure re-registration. The senior advocate argued before the judges that Form-6 is statutorily meant for first-time voter registrations rather than citizens who have already exercised their franchise in past elections. Forcing established electors to undergo the initial registration protocol is fundamentally misplaced, especially when the approaching deadline to apply for corrections leaves very little time for compliance.
Vulnerability of Residents in Redevelopment Zones
Addressing the specific demographic dynamics of the state's urban belt, the counsel highlighted approximately 3,500 ongoing housing redevelopment projects across Mumbai and Pune. The widespread demolition of older residential colonies and housing societies has compelled thousands of families to relocate temporarily to distant accommodations. Because of these transient residential shifts, citizens are encountering severe administrative hurdles related to address verification and residential documentation. Consequently, thousands of displaced families face the immediate prospect of being left off the electoral registers entirely.
Judicial Assurance on Reviewing Timelines
During the proceedings, the petitioner urged the bench to stay the finalization of the voter lists pending a complete judicial review. While the Supreme Court declined to pass an immediate order extending the procedural deadline, it explicitly kept the door open for targeted relief. Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that if a genuine segment of eligible citizens has been unable to furnish the requisite documentation within the stipulated timeframe, the court will actively consider extending the deadline to prevent unfair exclusion.
The Timeline and Numbers Behind the Exercise
The groundwork for the revision began when the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra published the draft electoral roll on August 31, 2026, for all 288 assembly constituencies under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026. Prior to this administrative exercise, Maharashtra's registered voter base stood at 9,78,54,049 electors. In the revised draft roll, however, only 7,71,65,562 voters, or 78.86 percent of the total, were retained. This revision effectively saw more than 2 crore names removed during the initial draft phase. With the publication of the final electoral roll scheduled for November 6, the court's upcoming hearing on November 5 remains a decisive moment for voters across the state.
