Supreme Court Sets Timeline for Bihar Electoral Rolls Issue
The Supreme Court emphasized the authority of the Election Commission (EC) and its obligation to act within the law. However, concerns arise over mass exclusions in Bihar’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, prompting the court to intervene.
Court Proceedings and Responses
Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi of the Supreme Court addressed pleas challenging the Election Commission’s SIR exercise in Bihar. The court scheduled a hearing on August 12 and 13 to delve into the matter.
During the proceedings, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan representing the petitioners reiterated claims of individuals being omitted from the upcoming draft list, risking their right to vote.
Bhushan highlighted the EC’s statement indicating that 65 lakh individuals failed to complete enumeration forms during the SIR process due to various reasons.
Justice Surya Kant assured the petitioners, stating their grievances would be heard if any discrepancies were found in the EC’s actions.
Additionally, the court appointed nodal officers on both sides to submit written statements by August 8, allowing for a comprehensive review of the situation.
Presumption of Genuineness and Voter IDs
In a different context, the Supreme Court refrained from halting the publication of draft electoral rolls in Bihar, citing the presumption of Aadhaar and voter ID genuineness.
The Court upheld the acceptance of these documents for the SIR process in Bihar based on their presumed authenticity, aiming to expedite the electoral roll refinement.
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Considering Document Validity
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan urged that the electoral rolls’ finalization be deferred, advocating for an interim stay on the draft list publication date.
The Supreme Court referenced an earlier order mandating the use of Aadhaar, voter ID, and other documents for the SIR exercise, signifying a push towards inclusive voter enumeration.
Despite clarifications on documents’ genuine use, questions on citizenship proofs and inclusion criteria were raised during the discussions.
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Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission defended the SIR process’s necessity to uphold electoral purity by eliminating ineligible persons from the rolls, further underscoring the importance of genuine identification documents.
Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving Bihar electoral rolls scrutiny.
