Three Petitioners Challenge ECI’s Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar at Supreme Court

NEW DELHI- The Supreme Court of India has been approached by three entities—the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), social activist Yogendra Yadav, and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra—seeking urgent legal action against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The petitioners argue that the ECI’s directive, issued on June 24, 2025, is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and risks disenfranchising millions of voters, particularly from marginalized communities. ADR, a prominent NGO focused on electoral reforms, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) claiming the SIR process, which involves a de novo preparation of voter lists, could exclude vulnerable groups such as the poor, women, and migrant workers.

Similarly, Yogendra Yadav’s petition demands a stay on the revision, highlighting the potential for widespread voter suppression ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

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Mahua Moitra’s writ petition echoes these concerns, urging the court to halt the SIR and prevent similar exercises in other states, citing violations of constitutional rights.

The controversy stems from the ECI’s directive to conduct a house-to-house verification of voters, which critics argue lacks transparency and could disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities.

The opposition INDIA bloc has also raised objections, meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner to demand clarity, though it has not yet filed a separate petition.

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As the Supreme Court prepares to hear these cases, the outcome could significantly impact Bihar’s electoral process and set a precedent for voter roll revisions nationwide. The ECI has yet to respond formally to the petitions, but the legal battle underscores growing tensions over electoral integrity in India.

However, Amid the uproar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Bihar Chief Electoral Office made a big announcement in the form of advertisement asserting that voters can get verified in the electoral rolls even without submitting the mandatory documents.

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“If you (read voters) provide the required documents, it will be easier for the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to process the application.

If you are unable to provide the required documents, the ERO can take a decision on the basis of local investigation or other documentary evidence,” the Election Commission (EC) said in the advertisement published on front pages of all the local newspapers of Bihar on Sunday (July 6, 2025).