Bihar SIR: SC seeks EC's reply on deletion of 65 lakh names from electoral roll

As both houses of the Parliament see continued protest over the issue of Special Electoral Revision (SIR) in Bihar, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought Election Commission's response on deletion of 65 lakh names from the electoral roll.

A plea was moved before the apex court seeking directions to poll body to disclose details of 65 lakh names recently dropped from a Bihar electoral roll published on August 1, as part of an ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The matter was mentioned before a Bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and NK Singh by Advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

"Draft roll says 65 lakh names have been omitted. But no list of those 65 lakh names given, and it says 32 lakh migrated, and no other details. They should disclose, who are 65 lakh? Who have migrated and who are dead? Apparently, the BLOs have recommended that person be removed or not be removed...they have published that for two constituencies...but what about other areas? We seek disclosure in these two IAs," reported Bar and Bench referring to an argument by Advocate Prashant Bhushan.

Justice Kant noted that according to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) followed by the ECI, representatives of each political party will be given this information.

The NGO, which has challenged the June 24 order of the Election Commission directing for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, filed a fresh application seeking direction to the poll panel to publish the names of around 65 lakh deleted voters with the mention whether they are dead, permanently migrated or not considered for any other reason. The bench told advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, that the reason for deletion would come in subsequent time as it is now only a draft list.