Chennai — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed the Madras High Court that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls will commence within a week. The announcement was made during a hearing on October 24, 2025, before Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan. The court was addressing a petition filed by former AIADMK MLA B Sathyanarayanan, who sought a comprehensive and transparent re-verification of the voter lists in the T. Nagar constituency.
Petitioner’s Allegations and ECI’s Response
Sathyanarayanan contended that the electoral rolls in T. Nagar were marred by discrepancies, including duplicate entries, inclusion of deceased and non-resident voters, and wrongful deletions. He argued that these issues contributed to his narrow defeat in the 2021 assembly elections by a margin of just 137 votes. In response, ECI’s Standing Counsel Niranjan Rajagopal assured the court that the forthcoming SIR would address these concerns effectively.
Court’s Observations and Future Proceedings
The bench acknowledged the ECI’s commitment to initiating the SIR and adjourned the case for a week to assess the progress. Sathyanarayanan had previously conducted a door-to-door verification of 100 out of the 229 booths in T. Nagar, uncovering several anomalies. He emphasized the necessity for a demographic audit of the voter list against census data to rectify inaccuracies and ensure the inclusion of eligible voters.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
The court’s directive underscores the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date electoral rolls to uphold the integrity of the democratic process. The upcoming SIR is expected to enhance transparency and public confidence in the electoral system in Tamil Nadu.