New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to adopt a voter-friendly approach during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Court emphasized that voters whose names were deleted must be allowed to submit claims for inclusion using either Aadhaar or any one of eleven prescribed documents.
The order comes after concerns were raised over large-scale deletions in the draft voter list. The Court clarified that both online and offline claim submissions must be accepted, ensuring that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote due to documentation issues. It stressed that the SIR process should focus on inclusion rather than exclusion.
The bench also expressed disappointment at the lack of effort by political parties in assisting voters. Despite thousands of deletions, only two objections were filed by Booth Level Agents (BLAs). The Court urged political parties to step forward and actively support affected voters.
The ruling reinforces the importance of inclusivity in the electoral process, underlining that accessibility and fairness must remain central to voter roll revisions, especially in a politically significant state like Bihar.
