The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana sat on Tuesday to probe how the Election Commission (EC) was issuing notices to voters in Delhi without disclosing the precise reason behind each "logical discrepancy" label. The court demanded the EC explain why 33 lakh voters received notices while 47 lakh names were removed from the draft roll, an omission that could affect half a million voters.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, urged the Court to see the lack of clarity as a constitutional flaw. He cited a notice demanding proof of age based on a supposed disparity between a voter's age and that of their parents, noting that such documents were rarely available in the EC's 12‑document list. The petitioners argued that many voters rely solely on Aadhaar, making it impossible to satisfy the EC's demands.
In response, the EC said every notice lists a reason and that the system is not mechanical. It deployed 14,000 Booth Level Officers and 1,200 Electoral Registration Officers to assist voters and set a deadline of October 29, with the option to extend if the exercise was unfinished. The Commission also launched WhatsApp groups and on‑site camps to clarify the process.
Justice Bagchi suggested the EC prepare standard replies for common categories, enabling officers to give uniform information at ward offices. The CJI directed the EC to file a status report detailing steps taken to address the concerns before the Court.
The ruling comes at a time when a retired judge in Delhi has been summoned to explain a notice, while a 62‑year‑old migrant farmer insists he never received any documentation. The EC will submit its report by the end of next week, and the Court may consider extending the deadline if the process remains incomplete.
The next phase will see the EC submit the requested report and the Court decide whether to grant an extension. If the EC fails to comply, further judicial intervention could ensue, potentially altering the electoral roll for Delhi’s next general election.