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The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on petitions challenging Bihar electoral roll revision scheduled for July 10 could prove to be a turning point in the ongoing debate between electoral integrity and voter accessibility, reported Live Law. The petitioners—comprising political leaders, civil society groups, and voter rights activists—have flagged the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive as potentially unconstitutional, exclusionary, and impractical in its present form.
Controversy Over Special Intensive Revision
On June 24, the ECI launched a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, instructing that voters not listed in the 2003 base roll must reapply with proof of citizenship, such as birth certificates or educational records, by July 25. The revision mandates the use of Form 6 and additional documentation, failing which voters face possible deletion from the electoral list.
Petitioners have described this as an “unreasonable and arbitrary” move, especially considering the tight timeline, monsoon disruptions, and technological barriers for rural and underprivileged voters. Many fear that this could lead to the disenfranchisement of millions, particularly migrants, daily wage earners, women, and Dalit communities.
Key Petitioners and Their Arguments
The matter has been brought before the Supreme Court by a cross-section of opposition leaders and civil society organisations, including RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and public intellectual Yogendra Yadav.
Their primary arguments are grounded in constitutional protections—specifically Articles 14, 21, 325, and 326—which enshrine the right to equality, personal liberty, and adult suffrage. They argue that placing the burden of proving citizenship on long-time voters is both regressive and undemocratic. Moreover, the requirement for specific documents, while rejecting widely used IDs like Aadhaar and ration cards, adds to voter anxiety and confusion.
Ground-Level Concerns and Political Reactions
Beyond legal concerns, the electoral revision is raising ground-level panic. In several districts, people—many of whom have been voting for decades—are struggling to obtain or upload the required documents in time. With many government offices affected by rains and a lack of digital access, the task appears insurmountable to those most at risk of being removed from the rolls.
Opposition leaders have termed the exercise “crazy,” “arbitrary,” and “politically motivated.” They allege that such a massive revision—close to elections and without adequate infrastructure—creates more problems than it solves.
ECI’s Justification and the Counterpoint
The ECI has defended its decision, saying the aim is to clean up electoral rolls and ensure transparency. It claims that a significant portion of the voter base in Bihar—estimated at over four crore people—were added after 2003, and a verification drive is essential to eliminate duplication and fraud.
However, critics contend that even if well-intentioned, the execution is flawed and the timelines unrealistic. They argue that the move risks undermining the credibility of elections, especially in a politically sensitive state like Bihar.
The Road Ahead: All Eyes on July 10
The hearing on July 10 is not just a routine legal proceeding; it is poised to set important precedents. The Court will assess whether the ECI has overstepped its jurisdiction, whether the revision violates constitutional guarantees, and whether sufficient safeguards have been provided to prevent wrongful deletion of eligible voters.
A verdict in favour of the petitioners could force the ECI to pause or restructure the revision process, while a verdict against could deepen concerns about electoral exclusion.
The Road Ahead: All Eyes on July 10
The hearing on July 10 is not just a procedural checkpoint—it may set a critical precedent for electoral governance in India. The Supreme Court will examine whether the Election Commission’s move aligns with constitutional values or undermines them, and whether the process is practically viable in its current form.
For now, uncertainty looms. Voters, political parties, and election officials in Bihar wait for clarity. As the monsoon sweeps through the state, so does a growing concern: will the electoral roll revision safeguard democracy, or will it spark a fresh debate on access and exclusion in India’s most crucial democratic exercise?
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