Bihar CEO asks voters to file claims with Aadhaar after 65 lakh names deleted from draft rolls
The development assumed significance in the wake of the Supreme Court's interim order asking the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar cards as evidence to challenge the deletion of names of electors from draft electoral rolls published on August 1.
'All such voters, who are not included in the draft list, can get information about their entry in this list along with the reason through their EPIC number. The list related to such voters who are not included in the draft list published on 01.08.2025 has also been displayed at all block offices, panchayat offices, municipal bodies' offices and polling stations, through which such voters can get information and information related to their entry along with the reason. Dissatisfied persons can submit their claim with a copy of their Aadhaar card,' CEO, Bihar, said.
In his order issued on Monday evening, the CEO, Bihar said, 'In light of the interim order passed by Hon'ble Supreme Court on 14.08.2025 in writ petition (s) (Civil) No.(5)640/2025 (Association of Democratic Reforms Vs Election Commission of India) it is hereby notified that the list of such electors whose names were included in the electoral rolls of the year 2025 (before the draft roll published on August 1, 2025) along with reasons (deceased/permanently shifted/absent/repeated entry) has been published on the websites of the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar and all District Election Officers of the State of Bihar.'
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The Hindu
21 minutes ago
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India's democracy is failing the migrant citizen
In a democracy of 1.4 billion, every vote matters. But for millions of migrants from Bihar, democracy is quietly leaving them behind. A silent crisis is unfolding, where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of State electoral rolls, and at short notice, has led to the mass deletion of nearly 3.5 million migrants (4.4% of the total voters). These are the migrants who have been labelled as 'permanently migrated' for being absent during house-to-house verification. These voters now face permanent disenfranchisement not just in their places of work but also at home. In a State where migration is not just an economic choice but also a survival strategy, this sweeping administrative action is threatening to erase millions from India's democratic record. For decades, out-migration has sustained Bihar's economy and its households. Locked homes, especially among poor and most vulnerable migrants, are a common sight across villages. Increasingly, migrants either migrate with their families or shift their families to marital homes for their care and safety. Yet, this reality of circular and split-family migration is now being read by the state as an abandonment of electoral rights. The 'sedentary citizen' is the issue The deeper issue lies in India's electoral infrastructure, which is still designed around a sedentary citizen. Voter registration is tethered to proof of residence and in-person verification. But for migrant workers — many live in rented rooms, at construction sites, on foot paths or in slums — such documentation is either unavailable or denied. This exclusion deepens in the context of regionalism and sub-nationalism, where migrants are often seen as job-stealers or political threats. Growing demands for job quotas in private sectors and strict domicile-based norms for government jobs reflect the larger political sentiments, which curtails the political inclusion of migrants. 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And yet, rather than bridging this turnout gap, Bihar's SIR initiative is widening the democratic deficit. This is not just a bureaucratic failure. It is a democratic rupture. The average turnout rate in Bihar's last four Assembly elections was only 53.2%, the lowest among major Indian States. In contrast, Gujarat and Karnataka — States with fewer outbound migrants — reported an average of a turnout of 66.4% and 70.7%, respectively, in the last four elections. Our own estimates, based on mobile visitor location register data, suggest an annual outflow of approximately seven million circular migrants from Bihar. Out of this number, 4.8 million migrate seasonally between June and September. However, half of them (2.7 million) return home during the festivals of Durga Puja, Chhath and Deepavali between October and November. This year, where there will be an Assembly election, many of the return migrants will be unable to vote as their names have been struck off. 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The fact is the ECI is a commission in crisis
India's first Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sukumar Sen (March 21, 1950 to December 19, 1958) was a man of few words. But he was a man of great action. He published no memoirs but is credited with having conducted one of the world's largest and most inclusive elections. His life is a lesson for those who are now in office: History remembers your work. Not your words or your excuses. Reeling from a damning Supreme Court of India's interim order on August 14, 2025 (to publish the names and reasons for excluding 65 lakh electors from the Bihar draft roll), and facing a litany of questions following a game-changing exposé by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is now facing what is arguably the thorniest credibility crisis in its history. And, going by the reactions to the ECI's recent press conference on Sunday, August 17, it is likely to get worse. 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Accepting this, the High Court imposed a time limit of three months to decide the same. The writers of this article appeared in person before the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Maharashtra (in compliance with this order), while their colleagues appeared before the CEO, Haryana. On May 22, 2025, the CEO, Maharashtra, passed his order, while the CEO, Haryana passed his order on May 24, 2025. Both were the same to a substantial extent. They did not provide any voter lists but noted that the data had already been provided before the election (the same argument made ad nauseum by the CEC in his defence); some of the information was available on the website, and, third, had a line that said to 'seek additional copies of the same documents/information subject to compliance with the requirements of the rules, from the respective competent authorities under the rules'. The response speaks for itself. 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Randeep Singh Surjewala is a Member of Parliament (Congress party) and an advocate. Muhammad A. Khan is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and the Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Law Department
The Print
an hour ago
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Punjab Police launches probe into collection of personal data by unauthorised persons for govt schemes
It was also reported that forms were being filled-up at these camps, a Punjab Police spokesperson said. The probe follows the receipt of complaints stating that personal data of citizens were being collected by unauthorised persons holding camps, making them vulnerable to data theft and bank fraud. Chandigarh, Aug 20 (PTI) Punjab Police has formed several teams to investigate the alleged collection of personal data by some unauthorised persons for some government schemes, officials said on Wednesday. Police have instructed the teams to visit the places where the camps were being allegedly held. The spokesperson appealed to the citizens not to share their personal data, including Aadhaar details, with unauthorised individuals, and access government schemes directly online or through the official mechanisms. The government's Suvidha Centres are facilitating citizens wishing to enroll in the schemes or download the beneficiary cards available after authentication of the applicant's identity, he said. A Punjab government statement said it has received credible reports that certain private operators were illegally collecting personal data of local residents, allegedly on behalf of political parties. Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, any collection or use of personal data without consent is a punishable offence, it said. The police have been directed to take strict penal action against those engaged in such unlawful activities, the statement added. It has also come to notice that several individuals, who shared their data, were later targeted in scams and banking frauds, including cases where phone numbers and OTPs were misused to siphon off money, it said. The government, therefore, strongly urges the citizens not to share their personal information with unauthorised persons or agencies, as they may be misused at any stage, the statement said. PTI CHS SUN ARI This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
