Supreme Court Declines to Halt Bihar Voter List Revision
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to issue an interim stay on the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections. The decision came as senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged the court to intervene, citing concerns over the revision process. The court has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, July 10, to further examine the issue.
The plea was presented before a bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi. Singhvi requested an immediate halt to the ECI’s directive, arguing that the revision could impact voter eligibility. However, the court opted against an interim stay, choosing instead to deliberate further later in the week.
The ECI’s SIR, initiated on June 24, aims to update Bihar’s voter list by removing ineligible entries and ensuring only qualified citizens remain registered. This marks the first such exercise in the state since 2003. The ECI reported that 87% of Bihar’s 7.96 crore voters have received pre-filled enumeration forms to facilitate the process.
Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, have challenged the SIR in court. RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, and social activist Yogendra Yadav are among the petitioners who argue that the revision’s timing and stringent documentation requirements could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters, particularly from marginalized communities. They allege the process violates constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
The ECI has defended the revision, stating it adheres to constitutional guidelines and provides ample time for voters to submit documents. The commission extended the deadline for document submission to August, allowing voters to address claims and objections during this period. Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer has also relaxed document requirements, instructing booth-level officers to accept signed enumeration forms even without supporting documents, in response to concerns about accessibility.
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The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on July 10 is expected to address these concerns, with petitioners seeking to overturn the ECI’s order. The outcome could have significant implications for Bihar’s electoral process as the state prepares for its assembly polls in October-November 2025.