SC to examine pleas on Bihar’s SIR Monday.
The Commission asserts that the revision process is a crucial step toward ensuring greater accuracy and transparency in the electoral rolls. According to officials, the primary aim is to remove ineligible or duplicate names, correct factual inaccuracies, and update entries to reflect the current status of eligible voters. This includes addressing spelling errors, updating addresses, and ensuring that deceased individuals are no longer listed. The Commission believes such efforts are essential to strengthen the integrity of the voter database and to uphold the democratic process in the state of Bihar.
Supreme Court to Hear Petitions Challenging Voter Roll Revision in Bihar Amid Growing Concerns
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to take up on Monday a series of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, a move that has stirred political tensions and sparked legal scrutiny ahead of the crucial 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matter. The petitioners have raised serious concerns about the timing and manner in which the revision is being carried out, arguing that the process is both hasty and potentially unconstitutional. According to them, the EC’s decision to launch a sweeping revision exercise in a poll-bound state without proper safeguards could result in the mass disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
At the heart of the petitions lies a deep unease with what has been described as a “drastic and rushed” effort by the Election Commission. The petitioners argue that there has been inadequate transparency and public awareness, leading to confusion and fear among voters — particularly in vulnerable and marginalised communities. They claim the process may ultimately undermine voter participation and affect the fairness of the upcoming state election.
“There is an urgent need for caution and fairness,” one petitioner stated, highlighting that democracy depends not just on holding elections, but on ensuring that every eligible citizen gets a fair chance to vote.
On its part, the Election Commission has defended the SIR exercise as a necessary step to clean up and update the electoral rolls. In its affidavit, the EC noted that over 1.5 lakh booth-level agents from various political parties had been involved to ensure the integrity and transparency of the process. According to the Commission, the revision primarily aims to remove duplicate or ineligible names, correct factual inaccuracies, and ensure the rolls are up to date.
The EC further emphasized that the exercise was conducted following due procedure and within its legal authority. “This is not about exclusion,” an EC official said, “It’s about accuracy. Every democracy deserves a clean and updated voter list.”
In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had advised the Election Commission to consider accepting alternate documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or older voter ID cards for verification. However, the EC has responded by stating that while these documents may be helpful in verification, no one can be included in the electoral rolls solely based on them. Proper legal verification, the Commission stressed, remains essential.
The matter has now reached a critical juncture. On July 10, the Supreme Court identified three core issues to be addressed: whether the EC has the legal authority to conduct a special revision, whether the procedures adopted are valid and transparent, and whether the timing of the exercise — so close to a major election — is appropriate and justified.
With the hearing scheduled for Monday, all eyes are now on the apex court, which must balance the need for clean electoral rolls with the fundamental right of every citizen to vote. In a democracy as large and complex as India’s, the stakes couldn’t be higher.