• Source:JND
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Bihar SIR: The Supreme Court on Monday will hear multiple petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar a few months ahead of the assembly polls. The apex court will hear the petitions from several political parties, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and AIMIM, NGOs, and political activists, which it has been considering since August 22. The court will also examine the response of the parties to the poll body's submission that 99.5 per cent of voters had submitted documents during the exercise. The Election Commission had emphasised that it will continue to accept the complaints even after the deadline of September 1.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will hear the petitions questioning the poll body's decision to carry out the revision process just a few months ahead of the polls. The apex court on August 22 asked the Election Commission to allow the excluded voters to submit their documents online apart from the regular offline process in the electoral roll revision. Earlier on September 1, the top court pointed out that there was a "trust issue" between the poll body and political parties in the state.

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The apex court had also refused to extend the deadline of the revision process by pointing out that the poll body had agreed to accept the complaints even after September 1. "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," the court stated.

"Process will continue until last date of nominations and all inclusions/exclusions are integrated in the final roll. In light of this stand, let the claims/objections/corrections be continued to be filed. Meanwhile, political parties/petitioners may submit their affidavits in response to the note," the bench added.

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While the political parties have claimed that the SIR was conducted to remove the margianalised section of the society from the voter list, the poll body stated that it was conducted to make the election more transparent.