No Stay on Bihar Draft Roll, SC Emphasizes Voter Rights

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Election Commission to go ahead with publishing the draft electoral roll for Bihar. It refused to issue an interim stay on the process. The Court emphasized that voter revision must focus on inclusion rather than mass deletion of names.

The EC plans to publish the draft voter list on August 1 as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The opposition had sought to halt this, alleging risks of large-scale voter deletion.

Court Directs Acceptance of Aadhaar, Voter ID, Ration Cards

The bench directed the EC to continue accepting Aadhaar, EPIC (voter ID), and ration cards as valid identity proofs. The Court stressed that eligible voters should not be denied registration for lack of a specific ID.

It stated that Aadhaar and voter cards carry legal recognition. Ration cards, too, must be accepted as supplementary proof. The bench clarified that exclusion on procedural grounds cannot be allowed.

NGO Role Advised to Opposition

The Court advised opposition parties and civil society groups to act like NGOs. They should assist people in ensuring names remain on the voter list. It urged them to participate in the process of inclusion and monitoring.

The Court also fixed August 12 for the next hearing. It said it would intervene if there is proof of large-scale exclusion of voters.

Petitions Highlight Disenfranchisement Fears

Several petitions challenged the SIR process, calling it flawed and rushed. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) warned the revision could disenfranchise lakhs, especially from marginalized communities.

Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc described the SIR as an “exercise in exclusion.” They demanded that the EC halt the revision immediately. However, the SC refused to entertain the plea for an interim stay.

The EC defended the SIR, citing the need to remove ineligible, deceased, or duplicate names. It said the exercise aims to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of the upcoming elections.

The SC reminded all stakeholders to maintain balance. It said the process must safeguard both transparency and voter rights.