A Special Intensive Revision survey by the Election Commission in Bihar has revealed that individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar possess Indian documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, raising serious concerns ahead of the upcoming elections.
Patna: The door-to-door survey conducted by the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s voter lists has revealed that numerous individuals originally from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are currently residing in the election-bound state.
According to sources within the polling body, these individuals have reportedly acquired Indian documents like Aadhaar, domicile certificates, and ration cards in their names, seemingly through unlawful means.
Also Read: BREAKING| Bihar Voter List Row: SC to Hear Pleas Against EC’s Revision on July 10
Block Level Officers conducting the survey door-to-door have identified numerous individuals, and these cases will undergo detailed investigation from August 1 to August 30. If the allegations are substantiated, the names of these voters will be removed from the voter list, according to sources.
This development is expected to intensify the ongoing debate in the election-bound state regarding the revision of voter rolls, just months ahead of the Assembly elections.
Initiated on June 24, the Special Intensive Revision aims to add eligible citizens to the voter list while removing ineligible voters. The last revision in Bihar took place in 2003. The Election Commission has stated that factors such as rapid urbanization, frequent migration, young citizens reaching voting age, unreported deaths, and the inclusion of names of illegal foreign immigrants have necessitated this revision.
The Opposition has raised concerns about the timing of this exercise, arguing that it won’t be completed in time for the elections. The RJD and Congress have also claimed that the Special Intensive Revision is a conspiracy designed to deliberately exclude voters. In response, the BJP questioned why the Opposition would be troubled if genuine voters were being verified and fraudulent entries removed.
The issue has escalated to the Supreme Court, where multiple petitions challenging the poll body’s voter list revision have been filed. Petitioners include Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha, the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms, rights organization People’s Union for Civil Liberties, activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, and former MLA Mujahid Alam.
During a hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday, important questions regarding the timing of the revision and the accepted documentation were raised. After the Election Commission argued that Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, the court stated that Aadhaar, ration cards, and identity cards issued by the Election Commission should be regarded as valid documents for re-verifying voters’ identities.
The court has not issued stay on the revision process.
The court expressed “serious doubts” about the poll body’s ability to complete the task without disenfranchising genuine voters and allowing individuals the opportunity to appeal, in time for the election.
The court asked,
“Your exercise is not the problem… it is the timing. We have serious doubts if you can manage this exercise. With such a big population (an estimated eight crore people) being subject to this ‘intensive review’, is it possible to link this to the forthcoming election?”
The court noted,
“A person will be disenfranchised ahead of the election and s/he won’t have the time to defend the exclusion before voting,”
It added,
“There is nothing wrong in this intensive process so non-citizen do not remain on rolls… but it should be de hors (i.e., conducted separately from) this election,”
This is Bihar’s first such revision since 2003. The ECI has empowered Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to conduct door-to-door verification, supported by pre-filled enumeration forms. Citizens can also submit their details online. To promote transparency, political parties are encouraged to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and participate actively in the process. Draft rolls will be released on 1 August 2025.
However, several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court under Article 32, challenging the SIR’s legality.
Despite the criticism, the ECI has denied making any changes and confirmed smooth progress in the initial phase.
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