EC power to hold SIR not unlimited, must be transparent, says SC, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court stated that the Election Commission of India's (ECI) power to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is not unlimited.
• The court emphasized that the ECI's power must align with principles of natural justice and be transparent.
• The bench included Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
• The Supreme Court is likely to hear the constitutional challenge to the 2025 Waqf law.

Detailed Insights:

• The court was hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the SIR exercise being carried out nationwide.
• Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, highlighted the commission's authority to carry out the revision.
• Last year, the Supreme Court limited the powers of district collectors in determining the status of waqf property and capped non-Muslim representation in Waqf Boards.
• The Waqf law deals with the management and administration of properties dedicated to religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Natural Justice: Principles ensuring fairness in legal proceedings, including the right to be heard and impartiality.
• Waqf: An irrevocable charitable endowment under Islamic law, typically involving the dedication of property for religious, educational, or welfare purposes.
• Electoral Rolls: List of persons registered and eligible to vote in an election.