ECI files affidavit in SC, defends SIR in Bihar

THE Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court defending the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, asserting that the exercise was being undertaken to restore the public confidence.

- Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty @ New Delhi

The affidavit was submitted in compliance with the SC's July 10 directive asking the commission to file a counter-affidavit in the matter by July 21.

It may be recalled that the two-judge vacation bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi that is hearing the matter had refused to stay the Bihar voter list revision in its July 10 order. "In our prima facie view, since the list is not exhaustive, it would be in the interest of justice for the ECI to also consider the Aadhaar card, electoral photo identity card issued by the election commission and the ration card," the bench had said.