SC directs Bihar legal service authority to assist excluded voters in filling appeals

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bihar State Legal Service Authority (BSLSA) to issue directions to its district-level body for assisting voters excluded from the final electoral rolls in filing appeals with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

- MPOST BUREAU

‘The apex court said that the question of deciding the appeals by voters, which were excluded after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, within the stipulated time and with a reasoned order, will be considered on the next date of hearing on petitions challenging the Election Commission’s exercise.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the district legal service authority will release a list of paralegal volunteers for assisting the excluded voters by filing appeals and ensuring that they have detailed orders of their name’ rejection.

‘The court also said that regardless of the outcome of these proceedings, it is imperative to ‘ensure right to appeal to persons stated to have been excluded from final list’.

‘The court therefore directed the state’s Legal Services Authority to offer free aid in this instance.

“They will collect information with reference to persons who have been excluded from the final list... offer services to draft appeals and free legal aid counsel,’ the Supreme Court said.