Supreme Court to Hear Pleas Today Against Bihar Voter List Revision, Petitioners Call It ‘Unconstitutional’

A batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar as “arbitrary” and “unconstitutional” will come up before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The petitioners include the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), activist Yogendra Yadav, and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

Bihar is set to hold assembly elections in October-November.

What Is the Controversy?

While voter list revisions are routinely conducted across India, the petitioners argue that this SIR is unprecedented in scale and scope. They claim it is the first time in the country that all registered voters are being asked to re-prove their eligibility.

The EC announced the SIR on June 24, citing rapid urbanisation, migration, the need to include newly eligible voters, underreporting of deaths, and the presence of “illegal foreign voters” as justifications.

However, opposition leaders allege the process could disenfranchise large numbers of eligible voters—particularly the poor and marginalised—due to onerous documentation requirements.

What Are the Petitioners Saying?

The petitioners, invoking Article 32 of the Constitution, argue that the SIR violates the fundamental right to vote by placing the burden of proof on individual citizens.

According to them, the exercise demands fresh applications and submission of documents proving citizenship by July 25, 2025—excluding commonly used IDs like Aadhaar and ration cards. Proof of parents’ identity is also reportedly being mandated.

Given Bihar’s high levels of migration and displacement, the petitioners contend such conditions are excessive and could effectively disenfranchise millions.

The EC aims to publish the draft rolls by August 1, with time set aside for objections and scrutiny.