The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 10 a series of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to undertake a special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
A partial working day bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi took note of urgent submissions made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for multiple petitioners including opposition leaders and civil society groups. Sibal urged the bench to issue notices to the Election Commission, but the court instead scheduled the matter for a hearing on Thursday, saying, “We will have it on Thursday.”
The petitions question the legality and timing of the EC’s June 24 directive, which mandates a state-wide revision of the voter list. Among the petitioners are Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. Jha’s plea alleges that the EC’s move violates constitutional provisions—Articles 14 (right to equality), 21 (right to life and liberty), 325 (prohibition of exclusion from electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex), and 326 (universal adult suffrage).
A similar petition has also been filed by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), along with submissions from civil rights groups like the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and activists including Yogendra Yadav.
The EC maintains that the special revision aims to weed out ineligible voters and ensure a clean and accurate electoral roll. The last such intensive revision in Bihar was conducted over two decades ago, in 2003.
The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision could have far-reaching implications on electoral preparations in Bihar, which is expected to go to polls later this year.
