SC to monitor Bihar voter list revision amid exclusion fears; hearing set for August 12–13

The Supreme Court on July 29 agreed to hear petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar on August 12 and 13, asserting it would “step in” if a pattern of mass exclusion of voters emerges.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi assured petitioners that judicial oversight would remain in place throughout the process. “We are here, we will hear you. If there is mass exclusion, we will step in,” the bench said during the proceedings.

The petitions, including one filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), have raised alarm over the potential disenfranchisement of around 65 lakh individuals, citing ECI data that these people had not submitted enumeration forms as they were either deceased or had permanently shifted.

Appearing for the ECI, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said the draft rolls had already been published and shared with political parties. He emphasized that a 30-day window remains open for objections and additions.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing RJD MP Manoj Jha, urged the court to ensure that those left out have a fair chance to re-enter the rolls. “We don’t know who has been left out,” Sibal argued, to which the ECI counsel responded that the information is available on its website.

Justice Bagchi clarified that the January 2025 electoral list would have been the baseline had there been no revision, adding that the court is monitoring the process closely. “Bring us 15 people who say they are alive but left out,” he said, reinforcing the court’s willingness to act on evidence of systemic exclusion.

Justice Kant also remarked that political parties should function like NGOs in aiding the voter inclusion process. “If the draft list is conspicuously silent, bring it to our attention,” he told the petitioners.

Dwivedi assured the court that a final voter list, accounting for all objections and corrections, is expected by September 15. “Only after that will the true picture emerge,” he said.

The court’s observations come amid growing concerns that the revision exercise may be used to manipulate voter rolls, particularly in politically sensitive regions like Bihar. While the ECI maintains it is conducting the revision in accordance with constitutional provisions, the Supreme Court made clear it would not hesitate to intervene if procedural fairness is compromised.