Voter List Revision in Bihar
In a dramatic hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court raised serious concerns about the Election Commission’s plan to carry out a ‘special intensive revision’ of Bihar’s electoral rolls just months ahead of the state assembly elections. The court questioned not only the legality of this rushed revision but also its fairness and implications on the democratic rights of millions.
Voter List Revision in Bihar
“This isn’t about the exercise itself, it’s about when you’re doing it,” Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said bluntly, as the bench grilled the EC over whether it could realistically manage such an overhaul in a state with a population nearing eight crore. “We have serious doubts if this can be done properly in time for the election.”
Voter List Revision in Bihar
Key Concerns from the Bench:
- Disenfranchisement Risk: The court flagged the potential for eligible voters to be unfairly excluded from the list without enough time to appeal. “Once the final list is out, courts don’t intervene. That means someone removed wrongfully won’t even get a chance to vote,” Justice Dhulia warned.
- Aadhaar Exclusion: The court was surprised that Aadhaar, a widely used government ID had been deliberately left off the list of acceptable documents for re-verification. “Your entire process is about establishing identity. So why leave out Aadhaar?” the bench asked.
- Legal Basis for the Revision: The EC was asked to explain under which provision of the Representation of the People Act this ‘special intensive revision’ was being conducted. “There’s a ‘summary revision’ and an ‘intensive revision’… where is this ‘special intensive revision’ defined?” the judges asked.
Justice Joymala Bagchi echoed concerns about timing: “There’s nothing wrong in cleansing the rolls of non-citizens. But such an intensive process shouldn’t be mixed up with an impending election.”
Voter List Revision in Bihar
Petitioners Slam the Move as ‘Discriminatory’
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayan, representing one of the petitioners, came down hard on the EC’s process, calling it “arbitrary” and “illogical.” He pointed out that many voters, even those registered for over a decade, are being asked to re-verify without using Aadhaar or even their existing voter ID cards.
Voter List Revision in Bihar
“How can you not accept Aadhaar, a government ID, when it’s used for almost every official purpose?” he asked. “They’re accepting caste certificates and other documents, but not Aadhaar?”
Even more troubling, he said, was the fact that some voters are being asked to prove their parents’ identity, a move that could disenfranchise large swathes of poor, migrant, or marginalized communities.
Voter List Revision in Bihar
EC Defends the Move
The Election Commission, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, argued the revision was necessary. “Over 1.1 crore people have died since the last revision. Another 70 lakh have migrated. We need to clean the rolls,” he said.
As for Aadhaar, the EC insisted it wasn’t a valid proof of citizenship only of identity and could be issued to foreign nationals too.
The court pushed back: “If you’re accepting caste certificates that are Aadhaar-linked, how can you then reject Aadhaar as invalid?”
Voter List Revision in Bihar
On the issue of people being removed from the rolls without recourse, Dwivedi claimed there would be a proper appeals process. But the justices remained sceptical, citing the time crunch.
Political Firestorm
The revision has sparked a political row, with the Congress and the RJD both part of the opposition alliance in Bihar accusing the EC of trying to skew the vote by targeting vulnerable sections.
Voter List Revision in Bihar
“This is not just administrative. It’s a targeted exercise,” argued senior advocate Vrinda Grover. “It will disproportionately affect the poor, migrant workers, and marginalized communities.”
The Final Word? Not Yet
Voter List Revision in Bihar
The court has yet to issue a ruling, but the justices made it clear: this is a matter that “goes to the very root of democracy.” The EC now faces the daunting task of justifying not only the legality but also the timing and fairness of its controversial voter roll revision with the entire country watching.
