The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) directive for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming state elections.
The Election Commission had issued instructions on June 24 for the SIR, citing the need to clean up the voter list by removing ineligible names and ensuring only eligible voters remain on the rolls. The Commission attributed the move to rapid urbanisation, high migration rates, new young voters, and unreported deaths, along with concerns over the inclusion of foreign nationals.
However, ADR, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, has argued that the move violates fundamental rights under Articles 14 (equality before law), 19 (freedom of expression), 21 (right to life and liberty), 325 and 326 (universal adult suffrage) of the Constitution. The plea also claims violations of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The petition warns that the EC’s directive could lead to large-scale disenfranchisement due to arbitrary deletions from the voter rolls without adequate procedural safeguards. “The documentation requirements, lack of due process, and the unreasonably short timeline make this revision exercise highly prone to error and exclusion,” Bhushan stated in the plea.
ADR pointed out that the last such special revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003 and questioned the timing and urgency of the current exercise. The NGO has sought to set aside the EC’s order and related communications.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has defended its move, asserting that the SIR is being conducted through a door-to-door survey by booth level officers, and all constitutional and statutory provisions under Article 326 and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 are being followed.
The Supreme Court is expected to take up the matter soon, with potential implications for the voter verification process and the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
