Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Bihar electoral rolls revision to November 4

The Supreme Court on Thursday postponed the hearing of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar to November 4.

During the brief hearing, Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi noted that the ECI is aware of its responsibility to disclose details of additions and deletions made to the voters’ list. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), argued that the ECI must publish separate lists of names added or deleted, along with reasons for deletions.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, responded that the poll body was already working on publishing the final rolls, and such directions were unnecessary. The Court emphasized that the ECI must publish the final lists, which should be made available to political parties and polling agents in each constituency.

The Court also directed the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA) to ensure the availability of legal aid and volunteers to assist those omitted from the voters’ list in filing appeals. The ECI had previously denied allegations that a large number of names were deleted from the voter list due to the SIR process.