• Source:JND
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Bihar SIR: The Supreme Court on Monday denied extending the deadline for filing objections and claims in the draft rolls under the Bihar special intensive revision (SIR) beyond September 1.

While the top court did flag a 'trust deficit' between the political parties and the poll body, the it did not pass any judgment to extend the deadline.

Can claims and objections be filed beyond September 1?

During the hearing, the poll body informed the top court that the objections and corrections in the draft electoral rolls can be filed beyond September 1.

The top court took note of the EC's submission and added, "the claims/objections/corrections be continued to be filed." The corrections and objections can be filed till the nomination for the Bihar Assembly elections.

The apex court stated, "As regards extension of time, note says that filing of claims/objections or corrections is not barred after 1 Sept. It is stated that the claims/objections/corrections can be submitted even after the deadline ie after 1 Sept and same will be considered after roll has been finalized."

What will be different with objections/corrections beyond September 1?

Based on EC's submission, the SC noted that the objections and corrections filed beyond September 1 will be considered after the roll is finalised.

It means that the claims filed before September 1 will be considered and processed immediately under the SIR exercise. The outcomes will be reflected in the final rolls, marking the completion of the SIR.

The claims filed after September 1 will be out of SIR's ambit and will only be considered as routine applications, which are generally filed in the run-up to the elections.

Bihar SIR

The poll body started the door-to-door verification process on June 24. The exercise continued till July 25. Around 65 lakh names were struck off from the draft electoral roll, which was published on August 1.

The poll body then provided a month till September 1 to file the claims and corrections, a deadline which was challenged by the political parties in the SC.

(With PTI Inputs)