Bihar SIR: SC says excluded voters can apply online

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that persons excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can submit applications for inclusion online, without having to file physical forms, and directed 12 recognised political parties in the state to assist voters in the exercise.

- PARMOD KUMAR

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that excluded individuals may apply online either on their own or with the help of booth-level agents (BLAs) of the 12 recognised political parties. The Court formally impleaded all 12 recognised parties, directing them to mobilise their BLAs to facilitate filing of applications in their respective booths.

Pointing out that Bihar has about 1.6 lakh BLAs belonging to all the political parties, the Bench said: "If each agent helps fill just 10 forms a day, there would be 16 lakh applications for registration of excluded voters each day."