New Delhi, July 10, 2025 (ANI): Swaraj Party leader Yogendra Yadav, a petitioner in the case against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Review (SIR) drive, Informer “The Supreme Court has kind of put the brakes on the disenfranchisement exercise that was happening” He said “The Supreme Court has kind of put the brakes on the disenfranchisement exercise that was happening. We did not ask for a stay order. The Supreme Court did not give a stay order because that was not required at all. What was said was that in the current exercise, there is a serious danger of disenfranchisement. The Supreme Court was very alert to that possibility. The judges repeatedly ask the Election Commission, 'Why don't you accept the Aadhaar card, when it is mentioned in your own rules for voter registration? Why is it that you don't accept the Epic card that you have yourself issued?... In a sense, the court has put the Election Commission now on a short leash; either come back to us within 14 days, or we will have to press this order further. So to my mind it's an important day to ensure the implementation of universal adult franchise in this country, which was being threatened..."
00:00It was a very important day in the Supreme Court today because Supreme Court has kind of put brakes on the disenfranchisement exercise that was happening.
00:11We did not ask for a stay order. Supreme Court did not give a stay order because that was not required at all.
00:17What was said was that in the current exercise there is a serious danger of disenfranchisement.
00:24The Supreme Court was very alert to that possibility. The judges repeatedly asked the Election Commission,
00:32why is it that you don't accept Aadhaar card while it is mentioned in your own rules of registration of voters?
00:39Why is it that you don't accept epic card which you have yourself issued?
00:44The court also asked that how is it that you are confident that given such a short duration in Bihar,
00:51how can you ensure that no one is disenfranchised?
00:55And the judges clearly said that even if one person is disenfranchised,
01:00you have to give them right to hearing, complete judicial process.
01:05So to my mind, given the prima facie observations the court has made,
01:09because court has been very kind and they always put it politely in a prima facie observation,
01:15but in a sense, the court has put the Election Commission now on a short leash.
01:21Either come back to us within 14 days or we will have to press this order further.
01:27So to my mind, it's an important day to ensure the implementation of universal adult franchise in this country,
01:35which was being threatened.
01:36Sir, as you rightly mentioned, the questions were asked over the timeline,
01:40that the bench questioned the ECI that they might not be able to finish the exercise before the elections,
01:46but the ECI on the other hand seemed cocksure that they will indeed finish the exercise.
01:51So, the question was not on whether the enumerated forms can be given or not.
01:58The question was, the court asked, how is it that you would ensure that every single person who may be dropped out,
02:08who is on the voters list today and may not be on the draft electoral rolls, will get hearing.
02:16Election Commission has to ensure that it would happen.
02:19The court has asked very serious questions.
02:22And most importantly, the court has asked them to reconsider the decision about 11 certificates.
02:27And the moment that is opened up, that of course opened up a huge possibility.
