Karnataka High Court Refuses to Extend Electoral Roll Revision Deadline

The Karnataka High Court dismissed a public interest litigation seeking to extend the timeline for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls from one month to three months per phase. Petitioners, including historian Ramachandra Guha and writer Devanura Mahadeva, argued that the current schedule placed severe pressure on Booth Level Officers and could lead to wrongful voter deletions or the loss of social welfare benefits.

Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha ruled the petition premature, stating that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a specialized constitutional authority best positioned to manage operational schedules. The court noted that the Government of Karnataka had already submitted a representation to the ECI regarding these concerns on June 15, 2026. Additionally, the court observed that similar challenges had already been declined by the High Courts of Sikkim and Delhi, and related matters remain sub-judice before the Supreme Court.

The ECI informed the court that it would adjust schedules if operational hurdles arise and clarified that notices to voters would be issued after the publication of the draft rolls, with responses accepted until September 16, 2026. The court declined to rule on allegations regarding the withdrawal of state welfare schemes, attributing those claims to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.