Supreme Court Questions Timing and Scope of Bihar Electoral Roll Revision
Over 10 petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the ECI’s decision, including one from the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms.
RMN News Political Desk
July 10, 2025
New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 10) raised pointed questions over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, urging the poll body to consider including Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards as valid documents for voter enumeration under the ongoing drive.
A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi questioned the ECI’s decision to initiate the revision just months before the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, noting that the move “goes to the root of democracy and the power to vote”. Justice Dhulia stated, “If you are to check citizenship under SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, then you should have acted early; it is a bit late,” highlighting the possible implications of revising voter rolls so close to the elections.
The Court also scrutinized the ECI’s exclusion of Aadhaar from the SIR process, noting that matters of citizenship fall under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Election Commission.
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Despite these concerns, the bench dismissed the contention of petitioners that the ECI lacked the authority to conduct such a revision, emphasizing that revising the electoral roll is a constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission. The last such exercise in Bihar was conducted in 2003.
During the hearing, the ECI defended the SIR, asserting its essential nature to maintain the integrity of electoral rolls by adding eligible voters and removing ineligible ones. The Commission reiterated that Aadhaar is not a valid proof of citizenship, maintaining that only Indian citizens are entitled to vote as per Article 326 of the Constitution.
Over 10 petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the ECI’s decision, including one from the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms. High-profile petitioners include RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC’s Mahua Moitra, Congress’ K C Venugopal, and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, among others.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine these petitions, with the next hearing scheduled for July 28. The Election Commission has been granted time until July 21 to file its response. No interim order has been passed yet.
The SIR has also sparked significant political opposition. Earlier, the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, organized a widespread “chakka jam” (roadblock) protest across the state on Wednesday, July 9, expressing strong opposition to the ECI’s ongoing revision. This protest has ignited a heated war of words with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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