Owaisi moves Supreme Court against SIR, alleges irregularities in EC decision-making

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), citing alleged irregularities in the Commission's decision-making process.

Hyderabad: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has filed a petition against Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the Supreme Court in light of what he called recent disclosures revealing serious irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s decision-making process.

The Hyderabad MP said that the purpose of filing a petition and a review petition is that the Election Commission should work in accordance with the law, and it should also be clarified whether the decisions related to SIR were taken with the consent of all or if someone had given a different opinion.

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Owaisi told media persons that the Election Commission is legally required to function as a collective body, but it is unclear whether the decisions taken were unanimous or if there was any dissenting voice.

He said the review petition was filed because the Supreme Court had previously dismissed the earlier petition about SIR. “We are unable to comprehend the changes made to the statutory enumeration forms, and we lack material information regarding this,” he said.

The AIMIM chief has sought a review of the judgment dated May 27, whereby the Supreme Court disposed of the writ petition, along with other connected petitions, and upheld the SIR order of the Election Commission dated June 24, 2025.

“The present Review Petition is necessitated by the subsequent disclosure of material revealing serious irregularities in the Commission’s decision-making process, including decisions allegedly taken without the requisite approval of the Commission, in violation of Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 (‘2023 Act’). The material also raises serious questions concerning the implementation of the statutory safeguards relied upon by this Hon’ble Court in upholding the SIR,” reads the petition.

Responding to queries, Owaisi said that when the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 was brought, he had raised all the points in the Parliament.

“Tell me, who said, why are you giving legal immunity to the Election Commission? If the Prime Minister can be sued, and the Home Minister can be sued, why did the government bring this law to grant legal immunity to the Election Commission? Who said in Parliament that if this law is passed, the Election Commission’s credibility among the people of India will be affected?” he asked.

Dismissing the criticism for not joining the ongoing protest by INDIA bloc, he said AIMIM was raising the issue on its own as it also wants to save the democracy. “We are doing our work. You do your work. We are not against it,” he said.

Referring to the protest against CAA, the MP asked how many parties participated in it protest how many were there. “We love this country more than others,” he said.

The MP criticised the Centre for de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. “Why is the government against anyone protesting? The Supreme Court has upheld the right to protest, so as long as there is no violence, protests should be allowed. These boys have been arrested today, but it was not at all necessary to arrest them,” he said.

To another query, Owaisi said AIMIM was still ready for talks with the Samajwadi Party and Congress to have an alliance in Uttar Pradesh to prevent Yogi Adityanath from becoming Chief Minister for a third time.