- By Akanksha Verma
- Sun, 06 Jul 2025 06:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bihar Voter List Revision: The Election Commission on Sunday said there was no change in instructions over electoral roll revision in Bihar, which is headed for the Assembly elections later this year. The poll body's clarification on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list came after media reports suggested easing of norms for document verification. The reports were based on an alleged newspaper advertisement, which claimed that there was no need to submit the documents with electoral forms. However, the EC has clarified that documents must be produced by July 25, which is the last day for form submission.
The Election Commission clarified that the electoral roll revision in Bihar was "being implemented smoothly at the ground level" and "there is no change in instructions". The EC further said that those who failed to submit their documents by July 25 would get an opportunity to do so during the 'Claims & Objections' period.
The SIR, which was aimed at removing ineligible names from the voter list in Bihar, required people to produce certain documents to prove their eligibility. A row erupted over the revision of electoral roll as a majority of the population appeared unable to produce one of the 11 documents listed by the Election Commission.
Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Challenged In Supreme Court
Amid outrage over the Bihar voter list SIR, TMC MP Mahua Moitra and NGO Association of Democratic Reforms moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission order for special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Civil society organisations, including PUCL and activists like Yogendra Yadav have also challenged the EC in the apex court.
The petitioners feared that the EC measure will lead to "a large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters". They have argued that the electoral roll revision order violated Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, 325, 328 of the Constitution and provisions of Representation of People (RP) Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors (RER) Rules, 1960.
In her plea, Moitra argued, "It is submitted that it is for the very first time in the country that such an exercise is being conducted by ECI, where electors whose names are already there in electoral rolls and who have already voted multiple times in are being asked to prove their eligibility."
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"The impugned SIR order requires the inclusion or retention of a voter's name in the electoral roll upon production of citizenship documents, including proof of citizenship of either or both parents, failing which the voter is at risk of exclusion. This requirement is ultra vires Article 326 and introduces extraneous qualifications not contemplated by the Constitution of the RP Act 1950,” the plea filed through advocate Neha Rathi said.
Why EC Ordered Bihar Electoral Roll Revision
The EC had issued instructions to carry out the intensive revision of electoral roll in Bihar on June 24, in a bid to ensure the inclusion of eligible citizens only. The last such revision of voter list in Bihar was held in 2003. As reasons behind the need for this exercise, the poll body cited rapid urbanisation, migration, addition of younger citizens, unregistered deaths, and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants.
The Election Commission said the Bihar electoral roll SIR will ensure the integrity and preparation of error-free voter list. The revision exercise is being conducted with the help of booth officers, who are holding a house-to-house survey for verification. The EC assured that it will adhere to the constitutional and legal provisions laid down in Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The CEO of Bihar has announced a special incentive of Rs 6,000 for each. As per a release, dated July 5, 1,04,16 545 Enumeration Forms, which accounts for 13.19 per cent of the total of 7,89,69,844 (nearly 7.90 crore) electors in Bihar who are enrolled as of June 24, 2025, have been received.
(With inputs from agencies.)
