Supreme Court to Review Allegations of Electoral Roll Manipulation

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a crucial plea on October 13, 2023, regarding the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations of electoral roll tampering in Bengaluru Central and other affected constituencies. The request, filed by lawyer Rohit Pandey, calls for the SIT to be led by a former judge to ensure an impartial inquiry.

The plea references a press conference held by Rahul Gandhi on August 7, 2023, where he presented detailed data to support claims of significant electoral fraud. In his address, Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of collusion, asserting there was a “huge criminal fraud” in the electoral process. He described the situation as “vote chori” (vote theft), which he labeled an “atom bomb on our democracy.”

Following Gandhi’s remarks, the chief electoral officers of Karnataka and Maharashtra requested that he provide names of voters he alleged were incorrectly listed, along with a signed declaration to initiate necessary proceedings. On August 17, 2023, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that Gandhi needed to submit an official declaration under oath within seven days regarding his allegations. Failure to do so would render his claims baseless.

The submitted plea urges the Supreme Court to impose binding guidelines on the Election Commission to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity in the creation and maintenance of electoral rolls. This includes mechanisms for identifying and preventing duplicate or fictitious entries. Furthermore, it requests that the Election Commission publish electoral rolls in accessible formats that facilitate public scrutiny and verification.

Concerns Over Electoral Roll Integrity

The petition highlights serious irregularities in the electoral rolls for the Bengaluru Central Parliamentary Constituency, specifically in the Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency. According to the plea, the Supreme Court’s intervention is essential for preserving the sanctity of the Constitution, which the court has previously identified as fundamental to free and fair elections—an integral part of India’s democratic framework.

The document raises alarming statistics regarding the electoral rolls in Maharashtra, noting that approximately 3.9 million new voters were added to the rolls within four months following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a stark contrast to the 5 million added over the previous five years. Such a disproportionate increase raises significant concerns about the transparency of the Election Commission’s processes.

The plea asserts that the Supreme Court has consistently maintained that free and fair elections are part of the Constitution’s “basic structure,” which cannot be undermined by legislative or executive actions. As the hearing date approaches, the implications of this case could profoundly impact the electoral landscape in India, prompting a broader discussion on the integrity of the electoral process.