In upholding the Special Intensive Revision in May 2026, the Supreme Court traced the Election Commission's power to Article 324 read with which provision?

Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955

Article 329(b) of the Constitution

According to the SIR judgment, when the Election Commission doubts a person's citizenship it:

Must delete the name without enquiry

Has no power to enquire into citizenship at all

May declare the person a non-citizen

Phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision, announced in May 2026, covered:

12 States and 2 Union Territories

All States and Union Territories

Under Article 324(5), an Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office:

By a resolution of the Lok Sabha alone

Only in the manner of a Supreme Court judge

What was the theme of National Voters' Day 2026?

Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure

National Voters' Day is observed on 25 January because on that date in 1950:

The first general election began

The Representation of the People Act was passed

A dispute over the election of the Vice-President of India is decided by:

The High Court of the State concerned

A joint committee of Parliament

Article 329(b) provides that an election to Parliament or a State legislature can be called in question only by:

An appeal to the Election Commission

Week 1 · Day 2 of 30

Elections and the Election Commission

The voter-roll revision that went to the Supreme Court and then went national, the notices to remove the Chief Election Commissioner, and two rulings on how an election can be challenged. Know Articles 324, 326 and 329 cold.

6 stories · 9 questions · every story sourced

Supreme Court upholds the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls

27 May 2026

In Association for Democratic Reforms v. Election Commission of India (2026 INSC 564), decided on 27 May 2026, a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi upheld the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the rolls. The Court traced the power to Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with Article 324, and held the exercise proportionate. The Commission may enquire into citizenship only to decide whether a name belongs on the roll; that is not a finding on citizenship. If it is not satisfied, it must refer the person to the authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Background. Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission. Article 326 sets adult suffrage: every citizen of 18 or over who is not disqualified. The 61st Amendment (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Why CLAT asks: A body's finding for one purpose does not settle a status for every purpose. That line is classic legal-reasoning material.

Source: Association for Democratic Reforms v. Election Commission of India, 2026 INSC 564 (Supreme Court, 27 May 2026)

SIR Phase 3: the roll revision reaches 16 more States and 3 Union Territories

14 May 2026

On 14 May 2026 the Election Commission announced the third phase of the SIR, covering 16 States and three Union Territories, among them Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and the north-eastern States. More than 3.9 lakh Booth Level Officers were to verify about 36.7 crore electors house to house, with draft and final rolls published State by State on separate dates. Reports said that after this phase only Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would remain to be covered.

Background. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are the field staff who verify electors door to door. A 'special' revision under Section 21(3) of the 1950 Act is ordered by the Commission at any time, beyond the routine annual revision.

Why CLAT asks: Expect the legal basis (Section 21(3) and Article 324) rather than the dates of any one State's draft roll.

Sources: The News Minute: ECI announces third phase of SIR covering 16 states and 3 UTs; Outlook: EC announces Phase 3 of voter list revision across 16 States, 3 UTs

Opposition notices seek the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

13 March 2026

In March 2026 opposition members gave notices in both Houses for a motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, signed by 130 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha members, it was reported. The notices relied on Article 324(5) read with Article 124(4) and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. They were not admitted, and a fresh notice with 73 signatures was given in the Rajya Sabha on 24 April 2026. No motion has been put to a vote.

Background. Article 324(5): the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge, by an address of both Houses passed by a special majority on proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the CEC's recommendation. Under the 2023 Act, the CEC and Election Commissioners are chosen by a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister named by the Prime Minister. In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) the Court had put the Chief Justice on the panel until Parliament legislated.

Why CLAT asks: The difference between the CEC's protection and the other Commissioners' is a standing question, as is the 2023 Act's selection committee.

Sources: All India Radio News: Opposition MPs seek motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar (13 March 2026); The Statesman: Opposition intensifies pressure to oust CEC Gyanesh Kumar with fresh move

16th National Voters' Day: 'My India, My Vote'

25 January 2026

The Election Commission marked the 16th National Voters' Day on 25 January 2026 in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu as chief guest. The theme was 'My India, My Vote', with the tagline 'Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy'. The President handed voter ID cards to newly registered young voters and presented the Best Electoral Practices Awards.

Background. The Election Commission was set up on 25 January 1950, a day before the Constitution came fully into force. National Voters' Day has been observed on that date since 2011. Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner.

Why CLAT asks: Day-and-theme questions are quick marks. Pair the date with the reason it was chosen.

Sources: President of India: President graces the 16th National Voters' Day celebrations; All India Radio News: ECI to celebrate 16th National Voters' Day

An election petition is decided on the record; no remand to fill gaps in evidence

20 March 2026

In Rakam Singh v. Amit, decided on 20 March 2026 by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, a Haryana sarpanch election had ended in a tie, and the Election Tribunal found double voting and ordered a fresh poll. The High Court set that aside and sent the case back with directions to record more evidence, including expert opinion on thumb impressions. The Supreme Court held that the High Court should not have directed fresh evidence on points not raised before the Tribunal. An election petition has to be decided on the evidence on record, and the matter went back to the High Court on that basis.

Background. For panchayats, Article 243-O bars challenges to elections except by an election petition under State law. For Parliament and State legislatures, Article 329(b) does the same, and the petition goes to the High Court under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, within 45 days of the result. Disputes over the President's and Vice-President's elections go to the Supreme Court under Article 71.

Why CLAT asks: Courts do not let a party use an appeal to build the case it failed to make at trial. Remember the forum for each kind of election dispute.

Source: LiveLaw: Election petition must be decided on materials on record, can't be remanded to fill evidentiary gaps

A rejected nomination: the remedy is an election petition

12 June 2026

In Meenakshi Natarajan v. Election Commission of India (2026 INSC 643), decided on 12 June 2026, a writ petition under Article 32 challenged the rejection of a candidate's nomination. Disposing of it, the Supreme Court recorded that its remarks on the rejection were only for appreciating the facts, and that nothing in its order would affect an election petition before the High Court, which would be decided on its own merits.

Background. Improper rejection of a nomination is a ground for declaring an election void under Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Courts generally do not interfere through writs once the election process is under way.

Why CLAT asks: The election petition as the exclusive remedy, and the courts' reluctance to step in mid-election, are common legal-reasoning principles.

Source: Meenakshi Natarajan v. Election Commission of India, 2026 INSC 643 (Supreme Court, 12 June 2026)

Day 2: answers and explanations

In upholding the Special Intensive Revision in May 2026, the Supreme Court traced the Election Commission's power to Article 324 read with which provision?
Answer: A. Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
Section 21(3) of the 1950 Act lets the Commission order a special revision of the rolls at any time. Section 100 of the 1951 Act lists the grounds for voiding an election.
According to the SIR judgment, when the Election Commission doubts a person's citizenship it:
Answer: B. May enquire only to decide eligibility for the roll, and must refer the person to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act
The enquiry is limited to eligibility for the roll and is not a determination of citizenship. Where the Commission is not satisfied, it refers the case to the authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision, announced in May 2026, covered:
Answer: D. 16 States and 3 Union Territories
The third phase covered 16 States and three Union Territories, with about 36.7 crore electors to be verified.
Under Article 324(5), an Election Commissioner other than the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office:
Answer: B. Only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner
The CEC has the same protection as a Supreme Court judge. The other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the CEC's recommendation.
Under the 2023 law on appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, who sits on the selection committee with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha?
Answer: A. A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister
The 2023 Act replaced the Chief Justice, whom the Court had put on the panel in Anoop Baranwal (2023) as an interim measure, with a Union Cabinet Minister.
What was the theme of National Voters' Day 2026?
Answer: D. My India, My Vote
The 16th National Voters' Day on 25 January 2026 had the theme 'My India, My Vote', with the tagline 'Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy'.
National Voters' Day is observed on 25 January because on that date in 1950:
Answer: A. The Election Commission of India was established
The Commission was set up on 25 January 1950. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came fully into force on 26 January 1950.
A dispute over the election of the Vice-President of India is decided by:
Answer: C. The Supreme Court
Article 71 gives the Supreme Court jurisdiction over disputes about the President's and Vice-President's elections. Election petitions for Parliament and State legislatures go to the High Court.
Article 329(b) provides that an election to Parliament or a State legislature can be called in question only by:
Answer: C. An election petition
Article 329(b) makes the election petition the only route. In June 2026 the Supreme Court, disposing of a writ about a rejected nomination, left the merits to an election petition.