On January 20, 2026, the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a 'legislative' action. The poll panel said it used a liberal approach while updating voter lists. This came even as reports emerged of 6.5 crore names being dropped from draft electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories during the second phase of SIR. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Election Commission, said their authority comes from Article 324 of the Constitution, which grants wide powers to conduct elections. "The powers of the commission were not just administrative in nature, but also adjudicatory and legislative," he said. To explain, Dwivedi cited how the commission decides the real faction when a political party splits. Dwivedi described the SIR order as "legislative in character," setting clear rules and documents for the process. He dismissed claims that the SIR procedure had no legal basis, explaining that Article 324 allows the commission to adapt procedures to changing situations. He added that Parliament and the Election Commission share a supportive relationship, both working to ensure elections and democracy function well. About the SIR 2025, Dwivedi stressed that the process presumed citizenship, making it easier for voters to remain on the lists. Those already on electoral rolls since 2002 needed no extra documents, while others only had to produce one of several accepted proofs, including Aadhaar. He explained that the voter removal in Bihar resulted from deaths, duplicates, and migration. Pre-filled forms were given to those in the rolls by June 2025, and voters had to sign them. Booth Level Officers were responsible for uploading these forms, and political party agents often submitted as many as 50 forms daily. The submissions came a day after the Supreme Court asked the poll body not to cause "stress and strain" to people in West Bengal during the SIR process.