Lawyers' group forms panel of former judges to probe SIR exercise
A lawyers' group has announced the formation of an independent panel comprising former Supreme Court and High Court judges to enquire into the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls undertaken by the Election Commission. The Lawyers Association for Constitution (LAFC) issued the statement on Friday, October 2, 2026, in response to growing concerns raised by citizens regarding the design, implementation, and consequences of the SIR exercise.
The five-member panel will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur and includes retired Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Patnaik, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad (former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court), and former High Court judges Rekha Sharma and Anjana Prakash. The panel will independently evaluate the constitutional and statutory validity, methodology, and overall impact of the SIR exercise on eligible voters. Senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, C.U. Singh, Vrinda Grover, Raju Ramachandran, Prashant Bhushan, and others will provide strategic legal advice.
The panel aims to deliver a report by December 2026 following nationwide public hearings, empirical and field research, and legal scrutiny of relevant laws and notifications.
