Bihar exercise to continue; SC hearing again before roll release

DECLINING TO RESTRAIN the Election Commission of India from proceeding with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, the Supreme Court on Thursday suggested to the poll panel to also consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards for the purpose of updating the rolls.

- ANANTHAKRISHNAN G

The vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi said it was leaving it to the EC to consider its suggestion on the inclusion of these three documents and "if you have good reasons to discard it, discard it" but "give reasons". It directed that the matter be listed for hearing again on July 28, before publication of the draft electoral roll.

Justice Dhulia, who was presiding over the bench that heard a clutch of petitions voicing concerns over the SIR in Bihar, including its timing, said, "There is a democratic process which is on... You may question it, we will examine it, no doubt about that.

"We can't stop a constitutional body. We will not allow them to do what they are not supposed to do. But at the same time, what they are supposed to do, they have to do."