-Bench asks for reasons behind deletions, orders acceptance of Aadhaar as ID proof

New Delhi, August 14 (HS): The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish, within 48 hours, the names of all 65 lakh voters whose entries were deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls during the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), along with the reasons for their removal. The data must be uploaded on the respective District Election Officers’ websites.

A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant further directed that Aadhaar cards be accepted as valid identification for those whose names are missing from the draft rolls. The matter will be heard next on August 22.

The court also instructed the ECI to publicise this information widely through leading newspapers, television, and radio, and to ensure the lists are physically displayed outside BLO offices, Panchayat Bhawans, and BDO offices across the state.

Petitioners Flag Arbitrary Deletions

Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Nizam Pasha alleged arbitrary removal of names despite submission of necessary forms. He presented affidavits from affected voters, stating that “on just one booth, 231 names that were present in the 2003 voters’ list have been deleted”, and claimed “BLOs are acting as per their own whims.”

The bench took serious note of Pasha’s submissions and questioned the EC’s counsel on why the names of 22 lakh deceased voters had not been made public.

“Why are names of the deceased and displaced not uploaded? Had these been made public, much of the negative narrative around the voter roll could have been addressed,” the court observed, pressing the ECI on mechanisms for informing families if a living member has been wrongly marked as ‘deceased’ in the list.

EC’s Response

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, defended the process, rejecting attempts to portray Bihar as backward or incapable.

He stressed that Bihar is a land of intellect, recalling that the nation’s first President hailed from the state. At this, Justice Bagchi remarked that “Bihar is also the birthplace of Indian democracy.”

Justice Bagchi further sought clarity on whether voter ID cards could be cancelled through such a revision, reminding that cancellation is only possible under Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act following a preliminary inquiry.

The hearing reflects the court’s intent to ensure transparency, procedural fairness, and public trust in the electoral process ahead of upcoming polls.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar