THE HINDU DATED 30th SEP 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials- 330

THE HINDU DATED 30th SEP 2026

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1. SIR Legal Basis Questioned — Electoral Roll Revision and Institutional Trust

The Congress Working Committee expressed “grave concern” over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and questioned its legal basis, alleging that the exercise could disenfranchise legitimate voters. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded greater disclosure of additions and deletions and reversal of disputed decisions. The BJP rejected the criticism, arguing that the Congress questions the Election Commission selectively when electoral outcomes are unfavourable. The dispute must therefore be separated into political allegations and the underlying constitutional question. Article 324 gives the ECI responsibility for electoral administration, while Article 326 establishes adult suffrage subject to law. Revision is necessary to remove duplicates, deceased voters and ineligible entries, but wrongful deletion undermines voting rights. Gist: credible electoral reform requires clean as well as inclusive rolls, transparent criteria, advance notice, accessible appeals, audit trails and equal application of procedures rather than treating either inclusion or deletion as an end in itself.

2. Supreme Court to Hear Petition Against CEC — Independence and Accountability

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the appointment and functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner, adding a judicial dimension to the continuing controversy surrounding the Election Commission. Separately, the legality of the SIR process is already the subject of judicial proceedings. The broader constitutional question concerns how the independence of the ECI can coexist with institutional accountability. Election Commissioners cannot function effectively if they are subject to routine political pressure, but constitutional independence does not place administrative action beyond judicial review when questions of legality, arbitrariness or fundamental rights arise. Courts generally examine whether constitutional and statutory procedures have been followed rather than substitute themselves for the election authority’s day-to-day administration. Gist: a healthy constitutional system requires both an independent Election Commission and credible checks on legality. Judicial review, transparent appointments, reasoned decisions and procedural safeguards can reinforce rather than undermine institutional autonomy.

3. Supreme Court Questions Huge Mark-Ups on Essential Medicines