Bihar assembly polls: EC's SIR flags discrepancies - '18 lakh dead electors, 7 lakh duplicates'
The ongoing survey, EC said, revealed that 18 lakh deceased electors, 26 lakh electors who had been shifted to different constituencies, and 7 lakh electors who had been enrolled at two places.
This came after the poll body justified its SIR exercise, which has been questioned by the Supreme Court and the opposition, saying that it added to the purity of the polls by "weeding out ineligible persons" from the electoral rolls.
"The SIR exercise adds to the purity of elections by weeding out ineligible persons from the electoral roll. The entitlement to vote flows from Article 326 read with Sections 16 and 19 of the RP Act 1950 and Section 62 of the RP Act 1951 which contains certain qualifications with respect to citizenship, age, and ordinary residency. An ineligible person has no right to vote, and thus, cannot claim a violation of Articles 19 and 21 in this regard," EC said in an affidavit.
"In addition to the legal concerns already articulated hereinabove, these documents are, in fact, already being considered by the Commission for the limited purpose of identity, during the SIR process," it added.
In its affidavit responding to a plea against the June 24 order mandating a nationwide SIR of the electoral roll beginning with Bihar, the Election Commission said that, despite legal concerns, documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards were already being used in a limited capacity for identity verification during the SIR-2025 exercise.
"A bare perusal of the enumeration form issued under the SIR Order reveals that the Aadhaar number may be voluntarily furnished by a person furnishing the enumeration form. Such information is utilised for the purpose of identification, in accordance with Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Section 9 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016," it said.
The Supreme Court, on July 10, directed the EC to treat Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards as valid identity documents during its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which is scheduled to hold elections later this year. The matter is slated for the next hearing on July 28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Collector inspects EVM godown in Eluru
Eluru District Collector K. Vetri Selvi inspected the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) godown located within the Collectorate premises on Tuesday. As part of the inspection, the Collector examined the security measures in place, including CCTV surveillance systems, and reviewed the condition of safety seals placed at the godown as per the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI). She also verified the functionality of fire safety equipment and reviewed the entries in the inspection register. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector emphasised that robust security arrangements have been implemented at the EVM godown in strict adherence to the ECI's guidelines. She stated that the premises are being regularly monitored and detailed reports are being submitted to the commission.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Bullock cart races represent glorious cultural heritage of rural Punjab: CM Mann
Ludhiana, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the bullock cart races are not just a source of entertainment but represent the glorious cultural heritage of rural Punjab. Bullock cart races represent glorious cultural heritage of rural Punjab: CM Mann He said that such races have been held in Punjab since ancient times and served as a living connection to our traditions and cultural identity. Mann, according to an official statement, said that Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev also practiced farming with bullocks during his time in Kartarpur Sahib. The chief minister said that the ban earlier on bullock cart races had not only disheartened lovers of traditional sports but also dealt a blow to our heritage. Addressing a gathering in Mehma Singh Wala village in this district, Mann said that there had been growing demand from Punjabis to bring a new law so that these traditional games can be revived. Mann said the Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill, 2025 was unanimously passed in the state assembly on July 11. The chief minister said this law will not only help in preserving indigenous animal breeds in Punjab but also pave the way for resuming bullock cart races. He said this law now awaits the consent of the President of India. Speaking about the new legislation, Mann explained its primary objective is to ensure safety measures for animals participating in sports, including veterinary supervision, safety standards, registration and documentation, and penalties for violations, so that no cruelty is inflicted upon voiceless animals. The chief minister also announced that his government will explore possibilities of reviving pigeon flying competitions as well. After the Bill was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly earlier this month, Mann had called it a "historic" day and said the bullock cart races will now resume in the entire state. It allows the resumption of bullock cart races in Punjab besides ensuring safety measures for animals taking part in sports. Bullock cart race had not been taking place at Kila Raipur Sports Festival in Ludhiana district, popularly known as 'mini or rural Olympics'. In 2014, the Supreme Court had banned these sports for being violative of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. "Considering the important role played by Bullock Cart Racing towards promoting the spirit of games and sports, and enriching the cultural heritage and tradition in the State of Punjab, which is also a great source to keep the Punjab's youth away from drug addiction and also to improve indigenous cattle breeds of Punjab, the government of Punjab has decided to exempt the conduct of Bullock Cart Racing in Punjab from the provision of the said Central Act 59 of 1960," according to the Bill passed by the Punjab Assembly. Meanwhile, Mann while referring to the sports festival held at Kila Raipur village said the games, which began in 1933, are popularly known as "Mini Olympics" or "Rural Olympics". Thanking the public for their overwhelming support in the government's war against drugs, the chief minister emphasized that drug abuse is not limited to one house or district, but it affects the entire state. Talking about irrigation, Mann said only 21 per cent of agricultural land across the state was irrigated using canal water that when he assumed office, but that figure has today increased to 63 per cent. The canal and river water is reaching the tail end villages of the state for the first time in history due to the government's effective efforts, he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"Will Step In": Top Court To Poll Body On Mass Exclusion In Bihar Rolls Revision
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Election Commission (EC) is a constitutional authority and it is deemed to act in accordance with law, but if there is mass exclusion in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the court will step in. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi fixed a timeline for considering a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's SIR exercise in Bihar, and said that hearing on the issue will be held on August 12 and 13. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioners, once again alleged that people are being left out from the draft list to be published on August 1 by the poll panel, and they will lose their crucial right of voting. Bhushan said the EC has issued a 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. He submitted that these people will have to apply afresh for inclusion in the list. Justice Surya 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 told Bhushan, "Your apprehension is that 65 lakh-odd voters will not feature in the draft list. Now ECI is seeking correction in the electoral roll. We are overviewing the process as a judicial authority. If there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in. You bring 15 people whom they say are dead and are alive." Sibal, appearing for RJD MP Manoj Jha, said the Election Commission knows who these 65 lakh people are and if they mention their names in the draft list, no one will have a problem. "If the draft list is conspicuously silent, you will bring to our notice," Justice Kant said. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the poll panel, said that even after the draft list publication, enumeration forms can be filed. The bench asked the petitioners and the poll panel to file their written submissions by August 8. It appointed nodal officers from petitioners side and the Election Commission side for filing written submissions/compilations. On Monday, underscoring the "presumption of genuineness" of Aadhaar and voter ID, the top court refused to stay the publication of the draft electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, and said it would once and for all decide pleas against the Election Commission's SIR of electoral rolls. It asked the poll panel to continue accepting Aadhaar and voter ID for the SIR exercise in Bihar in compliance with its order, saying both documents had a "presumption of genuineness". Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, had submitted that the electoral rolls should not be finalised in the interim, pressing for an interim stay on the publication of the draft rolls on August 1. The apex court, however, referred to the top court's previous order noting the petitioners did not press for an interim relief, which couldn't be allowed now, and said the matter would be interpreted once and for all. On July 10, a bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia asked the EC to consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards as valid documents as it allowed the poll panel to continue with its exercise in Bihar. The top court on Monday said the Election Commission suggested that the list of 11 documents for SIR was not inclusive but exhaustive, and they were using both Aadhaar and voter IDs for the purpose of identification. Dwivedi said Aadhaar was not a proof of citizenship and the voter card was not relied upon as it was a revision exercise or else there was no use of such an exercise. Justice Kant had then remarked, "Any document on earth can be forged. The Election Commission can deal with cases of forgery on a case to case basis. Instead of en masse exclusion it must be en masse inclusion." Dwivedi said the poll panel was accepting both Aadhaar and voter IDs but with certain supporting documents. The EC affidavit has justified its ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying it adds to the purity of the election by "weeding out ineligible persons" from the electoral rolls.
