SC on Bihar Electoral Roll Revision
The Supreme Court of India recently refused to restrain the Election Commission of India (ECI) from conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. The court suggested that the ECI consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards for updating the rolls. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on 28 July 2025.
Background
The SIR is a comprehensive revision of electoral rolls conducted through house-to-house verification. It involves de novo preparation of the voter list. In Bihar’s case, electors on the 2003 rolls need to provide extracts from those rolls. Newer voters must submit documents from a specified list of eleven to prove birth details, which help establish citizenship.
Supreme Court’s Observations and Directions
The court identified three key issues – the ECI’s powers, the procedure followed, and the timing of the revision given the upcoming elections. It left the decision on including Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards to the ECI but asked for reasons if they chose to reject these documents. The court emphasised that the revision must be lawful and transparent but did not halt the process.
Election Commission’s Position
The ECI argued that the list of documents for verification was not exhaustive but expressed concerns that adding documents now could complicate the ongoing process. It maintained that Aadhaar does not conclusively establish citizenship, which is outside the ECI’s mandate. The commission assured that all registered voters with mobile numbers were informed about the revision and that monitoring was ongoing.
Concerns Raised by Petitioners
Petitions filed by NGOs and political leaders questioned the timing and exclusion of Aadhaar from acceptable documents. They argued the revision might lead to wrongful exclusion of voters and resemble citizenship screening. Petitioners requested that the revision be delinked from the election schedule to avoid haste and errors.
Legal and Administrative Challenges
The court brought into light the challenge of completing a thorough revision within a short timeframe. The process requires personal hearings and careful verification, which may be impractical on a large scale before elections. The ECI was urged to balance accuracy with the electoral timeline while respecting legal mandates.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
The ongoing revision exercise illustrates the tension between ensuring accurate voter lists and protecting voter rights. The inclusion or exclusion of documents like Aadhaar impacts transparency and public trust. The case puts stress on the need for clear guidelines on electoral roll management in a diverse and populous democracy.
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