Supreme Court Warns Bihar Over Voter List Revision: “Mass Exclusion Won’t Be Tolerated”

Court Closely Monitoring Special Intensive Revision Amid Fears of Voter Deletions

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday made it clear that it is keeping a close watch on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, amid rising concerns that eligible voters may be wrongly excluded ahead of the upcoming elections. The top court sent a firm message: any sign of mass deletion of names will lead to judicial intervention.

Clear Deadline Set for Legal Arguments

A bench comprising Justices Suryakant and Joymalya Bagchi directed all parties involved in challenging the Election Commission’s actions to file their written submissions by August 8, ahead of scheduled hearings on August 12 and 13. The court has also appointed nodal officers from both sides to streamline the submission of evidence and arguments.

Petitioners Raise Alarm Over Faulty Deletions

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, expressed strong reservations about the integrity of the draft voter list, set to be published on August 1. They cited alarming instances in which living citizens were falsely declared deceased, potentially stripping them of their right to vote. The court was informed of at least 15 such cases.

SC Reiterates EC’s Constitutional Responsibility

In response, the bench firmly reminded the Election Commission (EC) of its constitutional duty to act within the legal framework. “If there’s mass exclusion, we will step in,” Justice Suryakant warned, urging the petitioners to present concrete examples of wrongful deletions, assuring they would be addressed with urgency.

Aadhaar and Voter ID Given Preference Over Ration Cards

A day earlier, the same bench had refused to stay the publication of the draft voter list, but took the opportunity to clarify key points regarding documentation. Emphasising the superior reliability of Aadhaar and voter ID cards over ration cards, the justices noted that ration cards can be easily forged. They directed the EC to continue recognising Aadhaar and voter IDs as valid documents for enrolment, underlining their “sanctity.”

Balancing Vigilance with Electoral Process

The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores its intent to safeguard voting rights in Bihar without stalling the electoral schedule. As the next round of hearings approaches in mid-August, the spotlight remains on how the Election Commission addresses these serious concerns—and whether eligible citizens will be duly represented on the final voter rolls.