New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) informed the Supreme Court that the Kerala government has no locus standi to seek postponement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating that the authority for scheduling and conducting local body elections rests solely with the Kerala State Election Commission (KSEC).
The EC said it has already issued strict instructions to ensure that SIR activities do not interfere with ongoing local body poll preparations. It added that if any concern existed regarding simultaneous processes, it should have been raised by the KSEC, not the state government.
The Commission further clarified that district collectors, who serve as district election officers for both SIR and local body polls, have confirmed adequate administrative arrangements. Personnel assigned for poll duties will not be used for SIR, and vice versa, in accordance with EC guidelines.
The EC emphasized that there is no operational overlap between the first phase of SIR and the conduct of local elections.