Kerala Seeks High Court Nod to Postpone ECI’s Voter Roll Revision Amid Local Polls

Kochi: The Kerala government has urged the High Court to permit a short deferment of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI), arguing that the Centre’s directive is impractical at a time when the state machinery is fully engaged in organising local body elections.

The petition, heard on Thursday, November 13, by Justice VG Arun, highlights the growing tension between the ECI’s centrally driven timelines and the on-ground realities faced by state administrations. The court, however, questioned why Kerala had not approached the Supreme Court, which is already examining similar challenges raised by Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup clarified that Kerala is not opposing the SIR itself but seeking a brief postponement until the completion of the local polls. He pointed out that the simultaneous conduct of the SIR and elections would create an enormous strain on the administrative system, which is already stretched thin.

As per the state’s submission, over 1,76,000 government employees and 68,000 police personnel are being deployed for the upcoming panchayath elections. Implementing the SIR alongside would require an additional 26,000 staff, disrupting election arrangements and governance functions. The state has also noted that the next Assembly election is due only in May 2026, leaving ample time for the revision once the polls conclude.

Kerala’s local body elections are scheduled for December 9 and 11, with counting on December 13 and related procedures concluding by December 18.

The ECI’s insistence on pushing ahead with the SIR, despite multiple states expressing logistical and administrative concerns, has drawn criticism for appearing insensitive to regional constraints. The process, first initiated in Bihar in June 2025, was later extended nationwide, a move several states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, have already challenged before the Supreme Court.

The Kerala High Court will pronounce its decision on the state’s plea on Friday, November 14.