Supreme Court Rebukes Prashant Bhushan for Calling Election Commission ‘Dictatorial’, Advises Legal Arguments Only

New Delhi: Amid nationwide controversy over the SIR initiative, the Supreme Court witnessed a tense moment on Tuesday when senior advocate Prashant Bhushan referred to the Election Commission (EC) as ‘dictatorial’ during proceedings. The court sharply rebuked him, advising that all arguments be confined strictly within legal boundaries and not mimic political rhetoric.

During the hearing, Bhushan criticized the EC for allegedly rushing the revision of voter lists, calling it unprecedented under the Representation of the People Act. He claimed the accelerated process caused severe mental and physical stress for Booth Level Officers (BLOs), reportedly leading to 30 suicides.

“The EC is often seen as a dictator because it allegedly disregards rules and regulations, acting solely on its own discretion,” Bhushan stated. In response, the bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymallya Bagchi immediately warned him to refrain from straying from legal arguments. The bench emphasized that relying on political commentary from parties opposing the SIR initiative to make broad claims against the EC was not acceptable. Bhushan was instructed to focus only on the legal issues raised in his petition challenging the SIR’s validity.

Bhushan further argued that the SIR exercise was presented as a mechanism to verify citizens’ residency across electoral constituencies but that actual citizenship verification falls under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the EC.

Earlier, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had raised concerns about repeated attacks on BLOs in West Bengal and other states, claiming the use of criminal force and intimidation during SIR operations. He requested the Supreme Court to authorize the EC to deploy armed forces and state police to ensure accurate voter list preparation. The bench, however, noted that the EC and relevant authorities are empowered to take appropriate steps in this matter.

The legal battle against the SIR initiative is being led by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), with Prashant Bhushan arguing on their behalf in court.