SC REFUSES TO STAY BIHAR ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION

The court said it is a democratic process and 'we cannot stay it'

- SAMBHAV SHARMA & AGENCIES

The Supreme Court Thursday refused to stay the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar. "We cannot stop a constitutional body from doing what it is supposed to do. Simultaneously, we will not let them do what they are not supposed to do," said a bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The Supreme Court has scheduled the matter for a detailed hearing on July 28. This comes just days ahead of the August 1 release of the draft electoral roll in Bihar.

The court was hearing several petitions claiming the revision could lead to valid voters being unfairly removed from the list. This, petitioners argued, may happen just before the Bihar Assembly elections. The bench noted: "There is a democratic process on — we cannot stay it."

The bench made it clear that the manner in which the revision is being carried out will be subject to judicial scrutiny.

The court issued notice to the Election Commission and sought its response by July 28 when the matter will next be heard.

According to the petitioners, this exercise coincides with the run-up to the Bihar elections scheduled for November 2025. The petitioners have challenged the constitutional validity of the SIR, the procedure adopted and the timing of the exercise.

The Court also recorded the ECI's submission that its list of 11 documents for voter verification is not exhaustive, but illustrative.