SC to hear Bihar voter roll plea Thursday
On Monday, a Bench led by Justice Dhulia agreed to urgently list a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s directive for a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. The petitioners argue that the revision order is arbitrary, violates established procedures, and could result in disenfranchisement of eligible voters. The matter is now scheduled to be heard on Thursday, with the Court expected to examine the legality of the order.
SC to Hear Pleas Against Bihar Electoral Roll Revision on Thursday
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) directive to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The matter has triggered legal and political debate, as the petitioners argue that the revision order is arbitrary and could lead to disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
According to the causelist published on the official website of the apex court, the case will be heard by a Bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi on July 10. The development follows an urgent mentioning of the matter before the Court earlier this week.
On Monday, the Justice Dhulia-led Bench agreed to list the case urgently after a group of senior lawyers, including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, and Shadan Farasat, mentioned it before the court. The counsels highlighted the need for immediate judicial intervention, contending that the Election Commission’s order could have serious consequences on the right to vote in Bihar, where Assembly elections are approaching.
The core of the challenge lies in the requirement under the SIR for voters to once again prove their eligibility through a specific set of documents. According to the plea, this mandate is “absurd and unreasonable,” especially considering that many of these voters have already cast their votes in previous Assembly and general elections. The petitioners claim that forcing such a verification process again not only causes inconvenience but also creates a risk of wrongful deletion of names from the electoral rolls.
The plea seeks a stay on the implementation of the SIR directive until the matter is fully adjudicated.
Amid growing criticism and controversy, the Election Commission on Wednesday posted an excerpt from Article 326 of the Constitution on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The excerpt appeared to be a response to ongoing concerns regarding the legality and timing of the SIR process.
The Court is now expected to examine whether the ECI’s exercise aligns with constitutional principles and electoral fairness.