Will It Be Beyond ECI's Jurisdiction To Inquire Into Citizenship In Doubtful Cases? Supreme Court Asks In SIR Pleas

While hearing the challenge to the Special Intensive Revision process, the Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether it was not within the mandate of the Election Commission of India to carry out an 'inquisitorial inquiry' through documents in cases where the eligibility of voters seemed doubtful.

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a batch of pleas assailing the SIR initiated across several states.

During the hearing, Justice Bagchi asked if the ECI would be going beyond its jurisdiction by holding an inquisitorial inquiry over doubtful names in the voter list?

Justice Bagchi posed :

" ECI never says that I have a right to declare ABC as a citizen and include their name; nor do they say that I have a right to declare XYZ as a non-citizen.But if ther