Bihar SIR: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission to publish on its website the names of nearly 65 lakh voters who were removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls.

The revision exercise, conducted by the Election Commission of India, has sparked a political storm, with opposition parties strongly criticising the move.

Amid the growing controversy, the Supreme Court suggested that making the list of excluded voters public would enable affected individuals to seek timely remedies.

Responding to the EC’s claim that these details had already been shared with political party representatives, the bench remarked, “We don’t want citizens’ rights to be dependent on political parties.”

ALSO READ: SP MLA, Who Praised CM Yogi For 'Burying The Killer Of Her Husband', Sacked By Akhilesh Yadav For 'Indiscipline'

Meanwhile., the ECI informed the court that, by conservative estimates, around 6.5 crore people in Bihar are not required to submit any documents for the revision exercise.

ALSO READ: BJP Observes Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Calls It 'Deceit Of Congress', PM Modi Reacts

Here's What Supreme Court Asked ECI On Bihar SIR: 

- The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disclose the names of 65 lakh voters whose names were deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls by 19 August, and to submit a compliance report by 22 August.

- SC clarified that any voter whose name was removed from the draft electoral roll in Bihar can file a claim for restoration by submitting their Aadhaar card.

- The SC ordered the ECI to give wide publicity to the list of deleted voters naming each person and stating the reason for deletion through newspapers, radio, and TV.

- The ECI must also display at the offices of district returning officers the full details of all 65 lakh deleted voters, along with the reasons for their removal.

- The ECI agreed in court to share, at the district level, the list of individual voters who have died, migrated, or shifted to other constituencies.

- Opening its arguments, the ECI said it has a “sufficient reservoir of powers to take certain decisions.”

- The Commission added that it operates “in an atmosphere of sharp political hostility” where “hardly any decision is not contested.”

- Referring to political reactions, the ECI remarked, “If they win, EVMs are good; if they lose, EVMs are bad.”

- According to the ECI, around 6.5 crore voters in Bihar are not required to submit any documents during the SIR process.

- The SC asked the ECI, “Why can’t you disclose the names of people who have died, migrated, or shifted to other constituencies?”

- The SC further questioned, “Why can’t you put these names on a display board or on a website? Those aggrieved can take remedial measures within 30 days.”

- The ECI responded that this list is currently shared only with political party workers.

- The SC disagreed, stating, “We don’t want citizens’ rights to be dependent on workers of political parties.”

- The apex suggested that the ECI issue a public notice specifying the websites or physical locations where this information about deleted voters can be accessed by the public.