Bihar Electoral Roll Overhaul: Petition Filed In Supreme Court Against EC's Voter List Revision Exercise In Poll-Bound State

NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has filed a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's decision for a 'Special Intensive Revision' of electoral records in Bihar, citing "lack of due process" and a "unreasonably short timeline," reported The Indian Express.

Filed on 4 July through advocate Prashant Bhushan, ADR’s petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeks to set aside the EC's 24 June order, calling it unconstitutional and warning it will “disenfranchise lakhs of voters”.

“The present Writ Petition has been filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, seeking setting aside of Order and communication dated 24.06.2025 issued by the Respondent Election Commission of India (ECI), directing for Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar (SIR Order), as being in violation of Articles 14, 19, 21, 325 and 326 of the Constitution of India as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960,” it states.

ADR argues the documentation requirements and short timeline will remove names of genuine voters, warning the directive “has shifted the onus of being on the voters’ list from the State to citizens.”

It says the “SIR process is violative of Article 326 in so far as it requires a voter to provide documents to prove his/her citizenship and also citizenships of his/her mother or father.”

According to ADR, nearly 3 crore voters, particularly those from marginalised groups, are at risk of being excluded.

It claims the EC's order "lacks recorded reasons supported by any evidence or transparent methodology, rendering it arbitrary and thus liable to be struck down", and points out that a Special Summary Revision was recently completed.

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