Today, On 28th July, The Supreme Court will examine multiple petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s voter list. The move comes just months before the crucial upcoming state elections.
Patna: The Supreme Court is set to hear several petitions Today, that contest the Election Commission’s decision to conduct a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which is preparing for elections.
A panel of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will address the issue, with the Election Commission defending its current SIR process.
They argue that it enhances the integrity of the electoral process by “weeding out ineligible persons” from the electoral rolls.
Also Read: BREAKING| Bihar Voter List Row: SC to Hear Pleas Against EC’s Revision on July 10
The Election Commission, defending its decision from June 24 to initiate the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stated that all major political parties participated in the process and deployed over 150,000 booth-level agents to connect with eligible voters. However, these parties are now contesting the decision in the Supreme Court.
The Commission emphasized that the SIR enhances electoral integrity by “weeding out ineligible persons” from the electoral rolls, as detailed in an affidavit aimed at countering allegations from various petitioners, including political leaders and civil society members.
The Commission highlighted that “the entitlement to vote flows from Article 326 read with Sections 16 and 19 of the RP Act 1950 and Section 62 of the RP Act 1951,” which establish specific qualifications regarding citizenship, age, and residency.
It asserted that an ineligible person has no right to vote and cannot claim a violation of Articles 19 and 21.
In a counter-affidavit, the NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms,’ the lead petitioner in the case, argued that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) possess broad and unchecked discretion, which could lead to the disenfranchisement of many voters in Bihar. They warned that if the SIR order from June 24, 2025, is not set-aside, it could arbitrarily disenfranchise thousands, undermining free and fair elections and democracy, which are fundamental to the Constitution’s basic structure.
The NGO criticized the exclusion of Aadhaar and ration cards from acceptable documents in the SIR, calling the decision “patently absurd” and lacking a valid justification. It also alleged that the SIR is being carried out in a way that constitutes a serious violation of voter rights, with reports indicating that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are signing enumeration forms themselves and that deceased individuals are listed as having completed forms.
Many voters have claimed their forms were submitted online without their knowledge or consent.
Furthermore, the NGO dismissed the Commission’s claim that the SIR addresses concerns raised by political parties, asserting that no political party had requested such a comprehensive revision. The parties’ concerns were primarily about the addition of fictitious votes and the removal of legitimate votes favoring the opposition, not a complete overhaul of the electoral rolls.
Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, a petitioner against the SIR, noted in his affidavit that there are reports of BLOs not visiting certain neighborhoods and allegedly forging signatures on voter forms. He pointed out that this exercise marks a significant shift, as individuals are now required to provide documentary proof of citizenship to be eligible to vote.
Activist Yogendra Singh Yadav indicated that around 4 million voters could be at risk of removal from the electoral rolls due to the ongoing SIR in Bihar.
On July 10, a vacation bench led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia instructed the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as valid documents while allowing the ongoing exercise in Bihar, which includes over 70 million voters.
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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