Bhubaneswar, May 27 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Election Commission of India's (ECI) authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, ruling that the exercise does not violate any constitutional or statutory provision.

Delivering its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in Bihar, the apex court said the ECI has the constitutional power to revise electoral rolls under the Representation of the People Act and the broader constitutional framework governing elections.

The court further observed that the SIR exercise has a direct connection with ensuring free and fair elections. It also upheld the poll body's authority to scrutinise citizenship during the revision process....