The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide a comprehensive response to a petition seeking detailed reasons for the removal of over 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s
draft electoral rolls. This petition was filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which has expressed concerns about the transparency and integrity of the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) process preceding the upcoming assembly elections.
A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant instructed the ECI to submit its reply by August 9, specifying the reasons for each deletion, such as death, permanent migration, or duplication. The ECI had previously released a draft roll comprising 7.24 crore voters but excluded more than 65 lakh names, citing various reasons, including 22.34 lakh deletions due to death and 36.28 lakh due to permanent absence or migration.
However, ADR, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, contended that although some political parties received lists of the deleted voters, these lists lacked specific details, making verification difficult.
In a prior hearing, the Supreme Court advised the ECI to focus on “en masse inclusion” rather than “en masse exclusion”, underscoring the significance of every citizen’s right to vote. The court’s order to disclose detailed, booth-wise information aims to facilitate thorough cross-verification by political parties and the public during the claims and objections period, which lasts until September 1.
Opposition parties have raised concerns that the revision process might result in the wrongful disenfranchisement of numerous eligible voters, especially those from marginalised communities. The case is set for further hearing on August 12.
