IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty moves Supreme Court against Kerala SIR

General Secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), PK Kunhalikutty, has moved the Supreme Court of India challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Kerala [PK Kunhalikutty v. Election Commission of India & Anr.]..The petition comes days after the Kerala High Court refused to entertain a petition moved by the State government to postpone the SIR in the State. According to the petition, a comprehensive Special Summary Revision (SSR–2025) was completed in Kerala with the publication of final electoral rolls on January 6, 2025 and continuous revision is ongoing under Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Therefore, the ECI's order for SIR in Kerala is unnecessary, the petition states.In his petition, Kunhalikutty has also submitted that the SIR has been scheduled November 4 to December 4 and that local body elections are scheduled to be held across Kerala from 9 to 11 December. This is putting undue strain on the State and its machinery, he argued. In this regard, Kunhalikutty has highlighted the heightened workload on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) with one BLO recently taking his own life in Kerala. A similar incident was reported in Rajasthan as well. As per the plea,"It is difficult to comprehend as to why ECI is sticking to the period of 30 days for the completion of the SIR. 5. The duration of the SIR is restricted to a period of 30 days from 4th November to 4th December 2025. During this 30 days period the BLOs have to visit a home three times, give the enumeration form, then collect the same and then will have to physically verify whether the details filled in the Enumeration firm is correct or not. If the voter misses any of these aforesaid process, he will be out of the draft voters list.".Pertinently, the petitioner has also highlighted the impact SIR could have on the significant portion of the NRI voters in Kerala who live abroad. While the ECI says NRIs can use the online registration facility, according to Kunhalikutty, this is not a solution as even after online registration, BLOs have to physically visit the address and verify whether the NRI is a resident of the address. And if an NRI is not present when the BLO visits for verification, they will be excluded from the voters list, Kunhalikutty has argued.As per the plea, the ECI's order to conduct SIR in this fashion was made deliberately to exclude as many voters from the draft voters list as possible. "This is violative of the basic principles of the citizens right to vote and also violative of the various provisions of the COI as well as the provisions of the Representation of the People Act," the petition states. Further, according to Kunhalikutty, the exclusion of many commonly available identity documents will disproportionately impact vulnerable classes of citizens, including migrant workers, the elderly, and those from economically weaker sections.The entire exercise of SIR, Kunhalikutty has contended, is nothing but a backdoor citizenship verification exercise well outside the powers of the ECI. On these grounds, Kunhalikutty has argued that the ECI's order for SIR in Kerala is arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution of India.The petition was filed through advocate RS Jena..The Supreme Court is already seized of petitions challenging SIR in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.The ECI had first directed a Special Intensive Revision in June 2025 for Bihar. Multiple petitions, including those filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Federation for Indian Women (NFIW), are already pending before the Supreme Court challenging that order.Despite those challenges being sub-judice, the ECI on October 27 2025 extended the SIR to other States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala.The SIR in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have been challenged before the Supreme Court which issued notice on those petitions on November 11.The Bihar SIR was meanwhile completed since the Supreme Court did not stay the process. The SIR in all these States will be subject to the outcome of the petitions before the apex court..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.