SC Hearing: Pleas Challenge Bihar Voter List Revision Over Citizenship, Timing Before Elections

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a series of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision to carry out a special intensive revision of the voter list in Bihar, just three months ahead of the assembly elections. Petitioners include political leaders, civil society groups like ADR, and opposition parties such as RJD and TMC. They argue that the process is being carried out in an arbitrary manner and could disenfranchise genuine voters. A key concern is that documents like Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards are reportedly being excluded from the list of acceptable citizenship proofs. Petitioners fear that a rushed verification process will violate the constitutional right to vote for millions.The Election Commission has defended its move, citing past revisions in 2003, and stating that the process is in line with Article 326 of the Constitution, which mandates that only Indian citizens can vote. It also claimed that over 50% of forms have already been received. The Commission, however, admitted in court that it hadn’t received all petition copies, limiting its response. The opposition has alleged political motivation behind the timing, while the EC maintains that it is acting transparently. The Supreme Court’s verdict could have significant implications for voter rights and election fairness.