Supreme Court Orders Election Commission to Enhance Transparency in Bihar Voter Rolls

Supreme Court's Directive for Bihar's Electoral Transparency

New Delhi: To enhance voter trust, the Supreme Court issued an interim ruling on Thursday, instructing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish district-specific data for approximately 6.5 million voters in Bihar. These individuals were excluded from the draft electoral rolls during the initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi mandated that the details of these voters, whose enumeration forms were not submitted, be made available on official websites by Tuesday (August 19). The reasons for their omission, such as death, permanent migration, duplication, or being untraceable, must also be included.

The court specified that the information should be searchable using EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers on the websites of the District Electoral Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar.

Additionally, the Supreme Court directed the ECI to promote the uploaded list through various channels, including newspapers, electronic media, and social platforms.

Moreover, the apex court instructed the ECI to clarify in public notices that individuals who have been excluded can submit their Aadhaar cards when claiming inclusion in the final voter list.

These directives were issued while the bench was reviewing multiple petitions contesting the ECI's June 26 order that initiated the SIR in Bihar.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) had approached the Supreme Court, requesting two key actions from the ECI: first, to release a constituency and booth-wise list of omitted voters along with reasons for their exclusion; and second, to reveal the names of electors whose enumeration forms were deemed 'not recommended' by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

In response, the ECI filed an affidavit opposing the ADR's request, arguing that the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, do not require the creation or publication of such lists.

The ECI maintained that it is not obligated to prepare or disclose a separate list of individuals not included in the draft electoral rolls or to provide reasons for their exclusion.

Eligible voters whose names are missing can submit Form 6 along with a declaration to claim inclusion in the draft electoral rolls during the claims and objections period, which runs from August 1 to September 1.

The ECI emphasized that the exclusion from the draft rolls does not equate to removal from the electoral rolls, stating that the draft merely indicates that the completed enumeration form for existing electors was received during the enumeration phase.