Thu Dec 11 16:31:17 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Questions Scope of “Migration” in Election Commission’s Citizenship Verification Drive
NEW DELHI, December 11, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India today questioned the scope of the term “migration” as used by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to justify its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court suggested that the term could encompass illegal immigration into the country, a point raised during arguments concerning the ECI’s rationale for verifying citizenship.
During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, forming part of a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, directly asked senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, representing Tamil Nadu CPI(M) leader P. Shanmugam, whether the movement of populations across international borders into economically viable Indian cities would constitute “migration.”
Ramachandran argued that citizenship verification was not explicitly stated as a justification in the ECI’s initial June 24th order outlining the reasons for the SIR. He contended that the ECI had cited rapid urbanization and internal migration for education and livelihood as the primary motives for the exercise, now in its second phase across 12 states and Union Territories and impacting 51 crore citizens.
The senior counsel further questioned the necessity of the SIR, arguing that adequate statutory mechanisms are already in place to address concerns about illegal residents. He accused the ECI of acting like a “nosy parker” and exceeding its constitutional mandate by taking on an “inquisitorial role.”
Chief Justice Kant, however, noted that the SIR was being conducted after a gap of two decades and cautioned against excessive judicial interference. The court further inquired whether the ECI could use documents like Aadhaar to verify the legitimacy of claims for inclusion in the electoral roll.
Ramachandran countered by emphasizing that the ECI should trust the public rather than approaching the exercise with distrust. The case highlights ongoing debate surrounding the ECI’s efforts to revise electoral rolls and the potential impact on citizens’ rights.
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