The Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court, through a fresh affidavit, that no voter’s name will be removed from the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar without prior notice and an opportunity for the concerned person to present their case. The assurance was given in the context of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the poll body stressing that the process will fully respect the principles of natural justice.
In its affidavit, the commission stated that, as a matter of policy, no deletion from the draft electoral roll published on August 1, 2025, will be carried out without first issuing a notice to the concerned elector. The notice will specify the proposed deletion, the reasons for it, and provide the individual a reasonable opportunity to be heard, submit relevant documents, and receive a reasoned order from the competent authority before any final action.
The revision process has faced strong criticism and legal challenges, with Opposition parties alleging that it could lead to the disenfranchisement of lakhs of legitimate voters, particularly from marginalised communities. They have accused the ruling BJP of orchestrating a deliberate “vote theft” by imposing what they describe as stringent and arbitrary documentation requirements ahead of the state assembly elections.
