India, Dec. 18 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to "sympathetically" consider requests seeking an extension of the enumeration period in states where the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is underway, "keeping in view ground realities and relevant factors", and to take a decision by December 31.

The court passed the order while hearing petitions challenging the SIR in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, where a request was made to extend the enumeration period till December 31.

The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, "The petitioners are at liberty to move representations and the ECI is directed to consider such representation sympathetic...