Today, On 22nd August, The Supreme Court directed political parties to actively support voters excluded from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls. The Bench said, “Political Parties in Bihar Must Instruct BLAs to Help Voters File Claims, Objections and Inclusion Applications.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court urged political parties to assist individuals who have been excluded from the draft electoral roll during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter.
Bench expressed surprise that, despite Bihar having over 160,000 booth-level agents (BLAs) from political parties, only two objections have been lodged according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Supreme Court said,
“Political parties in Bihar must instruct their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to actively assist voters in filing claims, objections, and applications for inclusion in the electoral rolls.”
Justice Kant said he is surprised by why the parties are not doing anything.
Justice Kant said,
“We are on inaction of political parties now. What are the booth level agents doing then? Why distance between political workers and the local people.”
He added,
“Political workers are the best persons. Why is there a distance between the people and the local political worker, he wonders.”
They also acknowledged the parties’ claims that BLAs were not allowed to submit their objections.
The Court directed all 12 recognized political parties to provide clear instructions to their BLAs, encouraging them to help voters submit the necessary forms and supporting documents, including the 11 listed by the ECI or an Aadhaar card, to ensure their inclusion in the voters’ list.
The Court included the 12 registered political parties in the ongoing case. It reiterated that individuals or BLAs have the right to apply online for inclusion in the voter list and noted that physical documents are not required.
The Court instructed BLAs to assist the 6.5 million individuals whose names were not included in the draft electoral roll, apart from those who are deceased or who opted out voluntarily, in submitting their objections.
The Court further ordered,
“Wherever the physical forms are submitted, the booth level officers are directed to acknowledge the form,”
This ruling came while the Court was addressing a series of petitions challenging the ECI’s directive from June 24, which called for an SIR of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), one of the petitioners, argued that the SIR could disenfranchise millions of citizens without due process, thus jeopardizing free and fair elections and democracy.
In contrast, the ECI defended its June 24 directive, stating it has comprehensive powers under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to revise electoral rolls.
Dwivedi noted that no political party had filed any objections and emphasized the responsibility of political parties to assist the ECI.
He stated,
“There are 1.6 lakh BLAs and if each verifies 10 claims…We don’t mean to exclude anything which cannot be. ERO shall not delete any entry from draft roll without inquiring and affording an opportunity to be heard for them,”
He further remarked,
“Also, individuals have to come forward and explain. If you are registered somewhere else, you must explain…like I forgot to take off my name at the older place…for Maha Kumbh or Durga Puja…people know…They come forward. They don’t have to be told. Same is with elections.”
Dwivedi concluded by requesting that the ECI be given more time before the Court issues additional directions, expressing confidence in the process: “Crores have been filing documents…please wait and see. Repose some trust on the ECI.”
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), emphasized that many individuals may still be unaware of the registration process.
He pointed out that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is now requiring people with claims to submit Form 6 for new entries, along with a declaration and Aadhaar.
He remarked,
“They say 85,000 people have come forward. Many are migrant workers and working outside the state. There is flood in many districts of Bihar,”
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, also representing the petitioners, questioned the legality of the entire Special Identification Registration (SIR) process.
He said,
“One day, they will come in Delhi and give these enumeration forms… I will say this I will not fill it. See what was asked for in 2003,”
He added,
“Now you have said allow Aadhaar. They are saying to those who are going with Aadhaar that give another document,”
The Court indicated it would address this issue. Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing a petitioner organization, argued that the ECI’s actions were causing confusion. She insisted that a reasonable timeframe should be allowed for the process.
She stated,
“ECI is creating the problems and they do not want to hear it. They are creating the confusion,”
When Justice Kant commented that political parties should fulfill their responsibilities, Grover responded that voters should not be caught in the middle of this dispute.
Advocates Nizam Pasha and Fauzia Shakil also presented their arguments today.
Earlier, On August 6, the Court learned that 6.5 million names were removed from the draft electoral roll published on August 1. The ECI assured the Court that no names would be removed without prior notice, an opportunity for a hearing, and a reasoned order from the appropriate authority.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), On 24 June 2025, started a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar before the Assembly elections. Under this process, voters were asked to provide updated documents, but many citizens did not have them.
Opposition parties and several NGOs criticised this move, saying it could deprive a large number of genuine voters of their right to vote. They approached the Supreme Court (SC), calling the ECI’s action arbitrary and against the Constitution.
The Commission, On 1 August 2025, released the draft electoral roll, which showed a total of 7.24 crore registered voters. At the same time, around 65 lakh names were removed from the list.
Petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), requested the Supreme Court to order the ECI to make public the full list of voters whose names were dropped, along with the reasons for each deletion. They said that without such transparency, many citizens might lose their right to vote without being given a fair chance to object.
Case Title: ASSOCIATION FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS AND ORS. Versus ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, W.P.(C) No. 640/2025 (and connected cases)
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Bihar SIR Row
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