Political Parties Have Filed More Applications For Deletion Than For Inclusion In Voters List: ECI Tells Supreme Court

Today, the Supreme Court, while hearing the Bihar's Special Intensive Revision case, was apprised by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that most of the political parties have filed more applications for deletion of names from the draft voters list rather than for inclusion of excluded names. This, the ECI claimed, vindicated their stand against the alleged illegal exclusion of a large number of voters from the list.

Earlier, on August 22, 2025, the Supreme Court had directed all the recognised political parties in the State of Bihar to make an endeavour that the persons who are not included in the draft roll were facilitated in submitting their objections, except those who are dead or have voluntarily migrated.

The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter and requested the Executive Chairman of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to issue instructions to all the District Legal Services Authorities to depute Paralegal volunteers, who will assist the individual voters or political parties for the online submission of claims, objections or corrections.

Senior Advocate Rakesh Diwedi, appearing on behalf of the Elections Commission of India, submitted that most of the political parties, rather than filing applications for inclusion, were filing applications for deletion from the draft list.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the Petitioners, informed the Court that the ECI was not following its own manual in the process.

Later, Diwedi apprised the Court, "According to the records, approximately 99.5% of electors out of 7.24 crore featured in the draft electoral roll in the State of Bihar have already submitted their eligibility documents pertaining to the SIR exercise. The exercise of the verification of these documents...is scheduled to be completed by 25th September."

Justice Kant asked, "On what ground they are seeking deletion?" Diwedi told the Court that deletions were being sought as such persons were dead or they had shifted to some other place.

Further, Diwedi informed that the claims and objections can be submitted even after the deadline(September 01, 2025) and the same will be considered after the roll has been finalized. Such process will continue until the last date of nominations.

Thereafter, after hearing submissions of the parties, Justice Kant suggested that the District Legal Service Authority depute Paralegal Volunteers to assist voters and political parties for submission of claims and objections.

"It is stated that the claims/objections/corrections can be submitted even after the deadline i.e after 1 September, and same will be considered after roll has been finalized. The process will continue until last date of nominations and all inclusions/exclusions are integrated in the final roll. In light of this stand, let the claims/objections/corrections continue to be filed. Meanwhile, political parties or petitioners may submit their affidavits in response to the note...", the Bench recorded in the Order.

"Each paralegal volunteer shall thereafter submit a confidential report to the concerned the District Judge... The information so collected from the paralegal volunteers may be collated at the level of the State Legal Services Authority", the Court said in its order.

Accordingly, the matter will be heard on September 08, 2025.

Background

The petitions, filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, and former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam, challenge the legality, timing, and process of the SIR. Moitra’s petition terms the exercise “illegal, unconstitutional, and ultra vires,” citing violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution, and the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

During the hearing on July 10, 2025, the Supreme Court took note of the concerns raised over the electoral roll revision and observed, “An important question has been raised in these petitions before this Court, which goes to the very root of functioning of a democratic republic that is a country. The question is of the right to vote.”

Earlier, on July 22, 2025, the Election Commission has filed its counter affidavit in the Supreme Court defending the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, asserting that the exercise is lawful, long overdue, and designed to cleanse the rolls of ineligible entries while ensuring the inclusion of all eligible citizens.

On August 22, 2025, the Supreme Court directed all the recognised political parties in the State of Bihar to make an endeavour that the persons who are not included in the draft roll were facilitated in submitting their objections, except those who are dead or have voluntarily migrated. The Supreme Court also ordered that the voters who are excluded voters can submit their application forms with 11 acceptable documents under the SIR or the Aadhaar Card.

Cause Title: Association For Democratic Reforms And Ors. V. Election Commission Of India W.P.(C) No. 640/2025 PIL-W