New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) has faced intense criticism following its Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the Bihar voter list, amid allegations that approximately 6.5 million voters were removed improperly. Multiple petitions challenging the move have been filed in the Supreme Court, which has now directed the EC to provide a detailed response.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the EC denied the allegations, asserting that no eligible voter’s name has been wrongfully deleted. The commission explained that removals from the draft voter list, released on August 1, are carried out strictly according to established rules. Voters whose names are proposed for deletion are notified in advance and given an opportunity to present objections and submit supporting documents.
The EC disclosed that the first phase of the SIR process has been successfully completed, with around 72.4 million voters submitting relevant documents. These verified names will be included in the revised voter list. The commission also confirmed that all names have been digitized, and the list of removed voters will be regularly shared with political parties.
The revision involved coordination among officials across 38 districts, including 243 Electoral Registration Officers, 27,976 Assistant EROs, and 77,895 Booth Level Officers. The EC further clarified that voters can file complaints or objections from August 1 to September 1 regarding the voter list.
The Supreme Court cautioned the EC that it will intervene if large-scale wrongful deletions occur. It advised the commission to accept Aadhaar cards and voter IDs as valid documents and to focus more on including names rather than removing them. The court also ordered the EC to submit details of the removed 6.5 million voters by August 9 and make this information accessible to political parties.
With the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for November, this development adds further scrutiny to the electoral process as political parties prepare for the upcoming polls.