Bihar SIR — 'Share Details Of 3.66 Lakh Deleted, 21 Lakh Added Voters': SC Flags ‘Confusion Over Add-Ons’
The Supreme Court directed the ECI to provide details on 3.66 lakh deleted and 21 lakh added voters in Bihar's electoral rolls, questioning the transparency of the Summary Intensive Revision.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Election Commission (EC) to furnish complete details regarding 3.66 lakh voters who were part of the draft electoral roll but ultimately excluded from the final list published after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar. The court noted that confusion persists over the matter and requested the information be submitted by Thursday, October 9.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the EC's June 24 decision to conduct the SIR. The petitioners, who include leaders from opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), Congress, and CPI(M), have alleged a lack of transparency and a failure by the poll panel to issue proper notice to excluded voters.
SC Seeks Clarity On 'Appreciation of Numbers'
The bench also sought clarity on the final voter list, particularly regarding the identity of voters added after the draft roll was released. The court noted that while 65 lakh deletions were made when the draft list was prepared, the final figure of electors showed an increase, leading to questions about the composition of the additions.
Justice Bagchi highlighted the improvement in the electoral process, but pressed for more data to dispel confusion. “You'd agree with us that the degree of transparency and access has improved in the electoral process,” Justice Bagchi told Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, who appeared for the EC.
He elaborated on the court's concern: “It appears from the data that there was a 65 lakh deletion in the draft list which you published, and we said whoever is dead or moved is alright, but if you are deleting someone, please follow Rule 21 and the SOP... Now the final list appears to be an appreciation of numbers, and there is confusion in the general democratic process -- what is the identity of the add-ons, are they of deleted names or new names. You have the draft and the final list. Just cull out these details and give us the information,” Justice Bagchi directed.
EC Counters Lack of Notice Allegations
Advocates for the petitioners strongly argued that the poll panel had been secretive about its process. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the RJD, and Senior Advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, for other opposition leaders, alleged that excluded voters were not provided with any notice or reasons for their exclusion.
“Nobody knows whether the addition of names was from the 65 lakh excluded voters from the draft roll or whether new voters were added which reduced the number of excluded voters in the final list,” Mr. Singhvi submitted.
Mr. Bhushan alleged a “Total lack of transparency” and added, “When your lordships forced them to give a list of 65 lakh names, only then they gave the details and made it public. Now, they have not given a list of 3.66 lakh voters deleted due to objections filed after the publication of the draft roll,” he submitted.
Countering the allegations, Mr. Dwivedi told the bench that “most of the names added are of new voters and there were a few old voters whose names were added after the draft roll was published.” He further stated that the poll panel was following protocol, claiming, “No complaint or appeal filed till now by any excluded voters,” and that “every individual voter whose name has been deleted has been given the order.”
Justice Kant, however, said that if any aggrieved person were to approach the court, the bench would be able to direct the EC to provide the list of voters who had not received their deletion orders.
The court was also informed that the Chief Electoral Officer’s website in Bihar was only providing disaggregated data. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Bihar-based activists, said the website “gives only disaggregated data and does not disclose details of gender-wise and age-wise claims and exclusions.” The bench issued notice on this specific plea, asking the EC to formally respond.
The final electoral roll for Bihar, published on September 30, brought the total number of electors down to 7.42 crore from the original 7.89 crore before the SIR. While the draft list, published on August 1, had removed 65 lakh voters (leaving 7.24 crore electors), the final number saw an appreciation of 17.87 lakh electors, owing to 21.53 lakh new electors being added and 3.66 lakh names being removed due to objections.
The court also issued a notice on a plea seeking clarification of Form-6, which is used by citizens to add their names to the electoral rolls. The Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled for November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes set for November 14.
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