
Voter roll revision in BIHAR: Will step in if there's mass exclusion says SC
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi listed the petitions challenging the Bihar SIR for hearing on August 12 and 13.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Association for Democratic Reforms, told the Court about the ECI's statement that 65 lakh persons have not submitted the enumeration forms during the SIR process as they are either dead or have permanently shifted elsewhere.
Bhushan told the bench that these persons will have to apply afresh for inclusion in the list.
Justice Surya Kant, observing that the Election Commission of India, being a Constitutional authority, will be deemed to act in accordance with the law, assured that the Court will hear the concerns. 'We are here, we will hear you,' Justice Kant assured.
Justice Bagchi expressed, 'Jan 2025 list is the starting point if there was no SIR. Draft list will be published by ECI. Your apprehension is 65 lakh odd voters will not feature...they (ECI) are seeking correction vis-a-vis 2025 entry. We are overviewing the thing as a judicial authority. If there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in. Bring 15 people saying they are alive.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Ignore such baseless allegations made on daily basis: EC on Rahul Gandhi's remarks on 'vote chori'
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the poll body, accusing it of large-scale voter fraud ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. Gandhi had claimed to have "open and shut" evidence of alleged poll irregularities by the poll authority and said that it would have no place to hide. The poll body slammed his claims as 'baseless' and 'irresponsible,' advising EC officials not to pay heed to such daily allegations and threats. The EC in a statement said, "The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made on a daily basis and, despite daily threats being given, urges all election officials to disregard such irresponsible statements and continue to work impartially, fairly, and transparently." The EC said that its primary focus remains on upholding democratic values and ensuring free and fair elections across the country. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi accused Election Commission of induling in "vote chori" (vote theft) for the BJP. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament, Rahul claimed that he had "open and shut proof" of ECI's involvement in vote theft when asked about the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar. Gandhi said his party had suspicions of poll irregularities in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls in 2023, then in the Lok Sabha polls and then the Maharashtra assembly polls. "We have said that there is a theft of votes happening and now we have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in theft of votes. I am not saying it lightly, I am saying it with hundred percent proof. As soon as we release it, the entire nation will come to know that Election Commission is working for the BJP to steal votes," Rahul said.

Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
Darshana Banik and Trina Saha share a conversation on Friendship Day
'Atom Bomb Hay, Fatega': Rahul Gandhi Warns EC Over Bihar SIR, Oppn Demand Parliament Showdown A political storm is brewing in Parliament as the Opposition accuses the Election Commission of attempting to "disenfranchise voters" in Bihar just months before the crucial state elections. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding an urgent discussion on the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. With only a fraction of Bihar's 7.23 crore applicants submitting eligibility documents, the EC is now scrambling to help issue identity proofs, triggering massive outrage from the Opposition. 'This isn't a revision, it's a voter purge,' allege MPs who warn that the EC's move could soon be replicated nationwide. Parliament proceedings remain paralysed as protests continue. Is this an administrative blunder or a calculated move to influence electoral outcomes? As India watches closely, Bihar has become ground zero in the fight for voter rights and electoral integrity.#biharvoterlistrevision, #specialintensiverevision, #sirbihar, #biharelections2025, #rahulgandhi, #ombirla, #loksabhaprotest, #oppositionprotest, #parliamentdisruption, #voterrollcontroversy, #biharvoterroll, #electioncommission, #congressbjpclash, #indiandemocracy, #voterdisenfranchisement, #electoraltransparency, #biharpolitics, #ecindia, #loksabhanews, #indianoppositionparties, #parliamentmonsoonsession, #electoralrolldebate #breakingnews #trending #bharat #toi #toibharat #indianews 2.4K views | 1 hour ago


Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Ahead of possible SIR exercise, EC writes to Bengal CEO, directs preparation of booth level agents' list
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal directing the preparation of the list of booth level agents (BLA) at the earliest. This comes ahead of a possible Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. In the letter to CEO Manoj Agarwal, ECI Under Secretary Sanjay Kumar stated, 'The entire exercise of SIR will be incomplete without active participation of the political parties, and BLAs, appointed by the political parties, have to play (an) important role in the SIR activities. Therefore, all the political parties must be informed in writing, and they should be persuaded for the appointment of BLAs immediately so that these BLAs are in (the) field during SIR and they can bring out any kind of anomaly to notice.' 'You are, therefore, requested to submit information to the Commission regarding the number of PSs (polling stations), number of BLOs (booth level officers), number of BLO Supervisors and BLAs, immediately without any delay,' it said. The letter referred to the SIR process in Bihar, before stating, 'All the CEOs (except Bihar) were also requested to complete all the pre-revision activities including rationalisation of polling stations having electors more than 1,200 electors, filling up all the vacant posts of EROs/AEROs/BLOs/Supervisors, appointment of additional BLOs having regard to electors within 1,200 electors in single polling station.' It added, '… Considering the magnitude of the work involved in the SIR activities, a BLO must be appointed for a single PS and BLO Supervisor should not be given charge of more than 10 PSs.' Notably, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has opposed the ECI's directive on submission of BLA lists. She argued that political parties are not bound to disclose their booth agents' names in advance and expressed concern that such lists might be leaked, allowing rival parties access. Her comments came amid concerns raised by both ruling TMC and opposition BJP over the role of BLOs, ahead of the SIR process. Teachers deputed as BLOs have expressed apprehensions over their security while on duty in what they say is a politically charged atmosphere. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More