Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Case Live Developments from the Supreme Court
The ongoing proceedings in the Supreme Court have shed light on the challenges surrounding the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The SIR, implemented ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, has sparked debates about voter inclusion rights and electoral integrity.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a batch of petitions filed by opposition leaders from various states, along with organisations such as the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the People's Union for Civil Liberties, and the National Federation for Indian Women. The petitioners have raised concerns about the potential mass exclusion of voters, with approximately 65 lakh names reportedly missing from the draft rolls published on August 1, 2025.
A key point of contention is the set of documents the ECI accepts for voter identity verification. The SIR lists 11 acceptable documents, excluding Aadhaar and voter ID cards (EPIC) as conclusive proof of citizenship. The Supreme Court has supported the ECI’s decision not to accept Aadhaar and voter ID as conclusive, stating that deletion of any voter name without proper notice and reasoned orders would not be allowed. However, the Court has also urged the ECI to consider Aadhaar, ration card, and EPIC card as admissible documents for this verification exercise.
The ECI, however, maintains that no elector’s name will be deleted without prior notice and a speaking order, and has asked the Court to dismiss pleas seeking to stall the exercise, stating that the petitioners came with "unclean hands." The Commission has also defended its directive, asserting that it is empowered to undertake such an exercise under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
In a notable development, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to publicly display the names of voters removed from Bihar's rolls and to accept Aadhaar and EPIC cards as valid identity proofs during the process, indicating judicial concern over exclusion risks.
The ECI has maintained that the SIR is crucial to ensure that only eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls ahead of the elections. The Commission later submitted an affidavit stating that neither Aadhaar cards nor ration cards can be treated as proof of eligibility to vote.
Overall, the Supreme Court has not stayed the revision process but has ordered caution to prevent mass disenfranchisement, demanding transparency and correction of errors. The final electoral roll is expected by September 30, 2025. The Court has stated that it will intervene if there is any deviation in the Bihar electoral roll case.
Summary of key points:
| Aspect | Details | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | SIR Implementation Date | Draft roll published August 1, 2025; Final by Sept 30, 2025 | | Number of Documents Required in SIR | 11 documents, excluding Aadhaar and EPIC as conclusive citizenship proof | | Supreme Court Position | Supports exclusion of Aadhaar/EPIC as conclusive proof but demands they be accepted for verification; mandates transparency on deletions and opportunities to respond | | Petitioners’ Concerns | Mass exclusion of ~65 lakh voters; limited coverage of accepted documents; risk of disenfranchisement | | ECI’s Stance | No deletion without notice and reasoned order; process is voter-friendly and inclusionary; petitions filed in bad faith | | Current Status | Revision ongoing under judicial monitoring; court poised to intervene against mass exclusion |
- The ongoing court proceedings, involving opposition leaders, organizations such as the Association for Democratic Reforms, and the People's Union for Civil Liberties, among others, have focused on the judicial concern over the risk of mass exclusion of voters in the context of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the需求 for transparency and correction of errors.
- The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar and EPIC cards as valid identity proofs during the SIR process, as a part of its efforts to prevent mass disenfranchisement and ensure general-news, politics, and policy-and-legislation regarding voter inclusion rights and electoral integrity due diligence.
