SC denies Bihar SIR extension, flags trust deficit between EC and political parties

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant additional time for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, even as it pointed to a growing trust deficit between and political parties and the Election Commission.

However, the poll body informed the apex court that claims, objections and corrections to the draft voter list in Bihar  can be submitted even after the deadline of September 1. The top court further directed the Bihar Legal Service Authority to deploy para-legal volunteers to assist voters, political parties in filing claims and objections.

In what can be seen as a continuance to its prior observations, the apex court outlined that the confusion over Bihar SIR exercise 'largely trust issue', asking political parties to 'activate' themselves.

The EC, while making its plea before the apex court, said that issuing notices within 7 days to electors whose documents incomplete, its continuing exercise . The apex poll conducting body also mentioned that a total of 99.5 percent of electors of 2.74 crore in draft electoral rolls in Bihar SIR have filed eligibility documents till now.

The apex court was hearing RJD and AIMIM’s pleas for extending the deadline to file claims and objections in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The deadline for filing claims and objections for inclusion or exclusion of elector names from the draft roll is September 1.

The Congress on August 31 said the party had filed 89 lakh complaints with the Election Commission of India, and possessed stamped receipts as evidence, contrary to the ECI's claims that there were "zero complaints" against the SIR.

The EC had cited four main reasons for deleting names from the voter list. Of these, 25 lakh were removed citing migration, 22 lakh marked as deceased, 9.7 lakh listed as "not found" at their addresses, and seven lakh struck off for being registered in more than one constituency.