Lawyers’ Association for Constitution forms 5-judge panel:Commission to examine ECI’s SIR process and impact

The Lawyers’ Association for Constitution (LAFC) has set up an independent commission of five former Supreme Court and High Court judges to examine the constitutional validity, methodology and impact of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The commission will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice MB Lokur. Its other members are former Supreme Court judge Justice AK Patnaik, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Badar Durrez Ahmad, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Rekha Sharma and former Patna High Court judge Justice Anjana Prakash. Commission formed over concerns about SIR According to a press release issued by the LAFC, the commission was formed in response to concerns raised by citizens about the design, implementation and consequences of the ECI’s SIR exercise. The commission will independently examine whether the exercise ensured that every eligible citizen remained on the electoral rolls and that ineligible entries were properly removed. Its inquiry will cover the constitutional and legal validity of SIR, its methodology and its overall impact on eligible voters. Public hearings to be held across India The commission will hold public hearings across the country through full and regional benches. It will hear testimonies from affected citizens, civil society groups and experts. A dedicated Research Wing will collect and analyse data on additions and deletions from electoral rolls across the country and present its findings to the commission. A Legal Support Team will examine relevant laws, notifications and verification processes to assess whether they comply with constitutional safeguards. Senior lawyers to provide legal assistance Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Chander Uday Singh, Prashanto Chandra Sen and Raju Ramachandran, along with advocates Rebecca Mammen John, Warisha Farasat and Vrinda Grover, among others, will provide legal assistance to the commission. The press release said the commission will have sole responsibility for its findings and recommendations. Neither the sponsoring organisation nor the supporting committees will influence the substantive decisions or conclusions of the former judges. Final report to be released by December 2026 A coordination committee and secretariat based at the LAFC will provide operational support to the commission. The commission aims to complete its inquiry and release its final report to the public by December 2026. ​