Supreme Court in ADR vs ECI (2025)

The Supreme Court in ADR vs. ECI Case, 2025, holds that the Election Commission has the power to conduct Special Intensive Revision under Article 324 of the Constitution, read with the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and its Rules. The judgment is relevant now because it examines the proportionality of Special Intensive Revision and the Election Commission’s role in questions bearing upon citizenship for electoral roll inclusion.

Special Intensive Revision and ADR vs. ECI Case, 2025:

Dimension	Key Details
Case Name	The case is ADR vs. ECI Case, 2025.
Supreme Court Holding	The Supreme Court holds that the Election Commission has the power to conduct Special Intensive Revision under Article 324 of the Constitution, read with the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and its Rules.
Special Intensive Revision	Special Intensive Revision refers to a large-scale, intensive revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India under its constitutional and statutory powers.
Constitutional Basis	Article 324(1) grants the Election Commission of India superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
Statutory Basis	Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, empowers the Election Commission of India to order special revision of electoral roll.
Non-Citizen Disqualification	Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, disqualifies a non-citizen from being enrolled in the electoral roll.
Rules Framework	The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, specifies procedures for enrolment and revision.
Legitimate Purpose	Special Intensive Revision fulfils the legitimate purpose of maintaining a credible electoral process through accuracy of electoral roll.
Means Adopted	Special Intensive Revision provides for structured house-to-house enumeration, verification and scrutiny by designated officers, and availability of remedies.
Least Restrictive Option	Statewide Special Intensive Revision is proportionate to the scale of the problem.
Citizenship Examination	The Election Commission is empowered to examine questions bearing upon citizenship, but the consequence of such determination is limited to entitlement for inclusion in electoral rolls and participation in the electoral process.
Citizenship Limitation	The Election Commission’s determination does not divest an individual of claims to citizenship and does not foreclose decision on citizenship by the competent authority under the Citizenship Act.