No Bihar Voter Will Be Dropped Without Notice, Order: Poll Body Informs Supreme Court

The Election Commission filed a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in poll-bound Bihar
No Bihar Voter Will Be Dropped Without Notice, Order: Poll Body Informs Supreme Court
Published on
Updated on
2 min read

The Election Commission filed a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in poll-bound Bihar, assuring that nobody’s name will be deleted from the draft electoral roll without prior notice and a formal order.

The ECI was responding to an application by the Association for Democratic Reforms, seeking a court directive for the poll body to furnish individual details of the roughly 65 lakh names deleted from the draft electoral roll, published on August 1 under the SIR exercise.

“As a matter of policy and in strict adherence to the principles of natural justice, no deletion of any elector’s name from the draft electoral roll, published on 1st August 2025, shall be undertaken without issuance of a prior notice to the concerned elector indicating the proposed deletion and the grounds thereof, affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard and furnishing relevant documents, and passing of a reasoned and speaking order by the competent authority," the poll body said in its affidavit.

The Commission maintained it had taken “every possible step" to ensure that no eligible voter was left out.

It further stated that a two-tier appeal system ensures every voter has sufficient recourse against any adverse action.

“Even in cases where any vulnerable elector does not presently possess any documents, he/she would be facilitated in the process of obtaining such documents," the Commission said, adding, “Out of 7.89 crore electors, over 7.24 crore submitted their enumeration forms."

The Commission said that, for the scrutiny period from August 1 to September 1, printed and digital versions of the draft roll have been shared with political parties, and the public can access it online.

In its affidavit, it described a broad plan to increase voter participation, involving large-scale awareness campaigns, repeated visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to engage with communities, and other focused outreach measures.

Further, the poll body said that under existing regulations, it is not obligated to publish a separate list of individuals excluded from the draft voter list.

Also Read
Gunfight Erupts After Army Engages Terrorists In J&K's Kishtwar; Operation Underway
No Bihar Voter Will Be Dropped Without Notice, Order: Poll Body Informs Supreme Court

The ECI noted there is no requirement under the rules to cite reasons for exclusion in the draft roll, but voters not listed can apply to have their names restored.

Source: News18

Stay connected to Jaano Junction on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Koo. Listen to our Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

logo
Jaano Junction
www.jaanojunction.com