SC Warns Intervention on Bihar Voter Roll if Mass Exclusion Occurs

• The Supreme Court stated it would intervene if Bihar’s electoral roll revision leads to mass voter exclusion.
• Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi’s bench fixed August 12 and 13 for detailed hearings on pleas challenging the Election Commission’s exercise.
• Petitioners, represented by Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan, alleged that people are being unfairly left out of the draft voter list.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th July: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that while the Election Commission (EC) operates as a constitutional authority expected to adhere to the law, it would intervene if the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar results in mass exclusion of voters.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi outlined a timeline for considering a batch of petitions that challenge the Election Commission’s SIR exercise in the state. The court scheduled detailed hearings on the contentious issue for August 12 and 13.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, reiterated their concerns before the bench. They alleged that numerous individuals are being left out from the draft electoral list, which is slated for publication by the poll panel on August 1, thereby potentially depriving them of their fundamental right to vote. The petitioners have consistently argued that the revision process, particularly its timing and methodology, could lead to widespread disenfranchisement.

The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR exercise is a crucial step to clean up and update the electoral rolls, ensuring accuracy and preventing duplication ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. However, the Supreme Court’s firm stance signals its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring maximum inclusion of eligible voters.