New Delhi, Aug 22 (HS):

In a major relief for voters in Bihar, the Supreme Court on Friday directed that applications for inclusion of names in the state’s electoral rolls can now be filed online, eliminating the need for physically submitting forms at local offices. The court clarified that applicants may furnish either an Aadhaar card or any one of the 11 documents listed by the Election Commission.

The bench, headed by Justice Surya Kant, also instructed all 12 recognized political parties in Bihar to direct their booth-level agents to assist voters in completing the process. Parties that had not joined the ongoing litigation have also been made respondents in the matter.

Expressing surprise, the Court noted that despite Bihar having 1.6 lakh booth-level agents from recognized political outfits, only two objections to the voter list revision had been officially filed so far. Some parties alleged that officials were refusing to accept objections raised by their agents. Addressing this, the Court directed booth-level officers to consider such objections and issue proper acknowledgments to agents when submissions are made.

During the hearing, senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission, informed the bench that the list of voters whose names had been deleted has been uploaded on the Commission’s website. He added that more than two lakh applications for inclusion of names had already been received.

However, the claims of political inaction were strongly contested by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Sibal said he was representing RJD MP Manoj Jha, while Singhvi appeared for a joint petition filed by the Congress, CPI(M), CPI-ML Liberation, CPI, NCP and others.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), argued that insisting on multiple documents made the process difficult for many, especially migrant workers from Bihar. He pointed out that several constituencies lacked adequate booth-level agents, and even the RJD — Bihar’s principal opposition party — had representation in only about half the state’s constituencies.

Responding, the Court said it could order that those whose names were deleted from the rolls may reapply online using Aadhaar alone, ensuring a more accessible and inclusive system.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar