THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, July 29: The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it clear that while the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional authority expected to act within the framework of law, any large-scale exclusion of voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar will prompt judicial intervention.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi scheduled a detailed hearing on August 12 and 13 to address petitions challenging the ECI’s SIR process.
The court directed both petitioners and the poll panel to submit their written arguments by August 8 and appointed nodal officers on each side for coordination.
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Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, reiterated concerns that many genuine voters could be left out of the draft electoral rolls, which the ECI plans to publish on August 1.
Bhushan pointed to ECI’s statement indicating that about 65 lakh individuals had not submitted enumeration forms, allegedly because they were either deceased or had migrated. He warned that those omitted would now need to apply afresh for inclusion.
Responding to these apprehensions, Justice Kant said, “The Election Commission of India, being a Constitutional authority, is deemed to act in accordance with the law. If any wrong doing is done, you bring to the notice of the court. We will hear you.”
Justice Bagchi said that if the omission of such a large number of voters is proven, the court would “immediately step in,” even suggesting petitioners produce cases where voters declared dead are alive.
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On the other hand, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the EC, assured that individuals could still file forms after the draft list is published. The bench reminded petitioners that any omission in the draft rolls should be promptly reported.
A day earlier, the court had refused to halt the draft roll publication, noting the “presumption of genuineness” for Aadhaar and voter ID documents, and asked that both continue to be accepted in the SIR process. It also emphasized that it aims to deliver a final ruling on the challenges to the EC’s exercise.
