The Supreme Court issued a stern warning on Monday regarding Bihar’s controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating it would cancel the entire exercise if any illegality is discovered in the Election Commission of India’s methodology.
Supreme Court on Bihar’s SRI issue
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made clear their position while hearing challenges to the electoral survey, emphasizing they were presuming the poll panel had followed proper legal procedures as a constitutional authority.
The court refused to provide any partial rulings on the matter, indicating its final verdict would establish precedent for SIR exercises nationwide. Final arguments on the Bihar SIR’s validity have been scheduled for October 7.
Aadhaar Inclusion Controversy
On September 8, the Supreme Court directed that Aadhaar be accepted as the twelfth valid document for electoral roll inclusion during Bihar’s ongoing SIR, following complaints that election officials were rejecting it despite previous instructions.
The court overruled Election Commission objections, clarifying that while Aadhaar cannot establish citizenship, it remains legitimate proof of identity and residence. This decision addressed criticism that excluding Aadhaar from the EC’s approved list of 11 documents unfairly disadvantaged voters, given its widespread availability compared to other identification documents.
Political Controversy
The SIR exercise has drawn fierce opposition criticism, with parties alleging that millions of legitimate voters are being removed without proper verification. On August 18, the ECI published a draft list showing 65 lakh names had been deleted through the SIR process.
The Election Commission has pushed back against opposition “vote chori” (vote theft) allegations, accusing political parties of misleading voters while deflecting responsibility onto the poll body.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has directly challenged Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition chief Rahul Gandhi, demanding he either file an affidavit with supporting evidence or issue a public apology for his allegations against the commission.
Stakes and Implications
The Supreme Court’s warning carries significant implications for electoral integrity in poll-bound Bihar and potentially other states conducting similar exercises. The court’s insistence on pan-India applicability suggests any ruling could reshape how electoral roll revisions are conducted nationwide.
The October 7 hearing will determine whether the current methodology meets legal standards or requires fundamental changes to protect voter rights while maintaining electoral accuracy.
