The Election Commission of India (ECI) has assured the Supreme Court that no voter’s name will be removed from Bihar’s draft electoral roll without prior notice, a hearing, and a reasoned order, addressing concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This commitment, detailed in an affidavit filed on August 9, 2025, responds to allegations of mass voter exclusions following the release of the draft rolls on August 1, which enlisted 7.24 crore voters but excluded over 65 lakh, primarily due to deaths (22.34 lakh), migration (36.28 lakh), or duplicate entries (7.01 lakh).

The ECI emphasized adherence to natural justice, stating, “No deletion from the draft roll, published on August 1, 2025, will occur without prior notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a reasoned order by the competent authority.” A two-tier appeal mechanism under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, further ensures recourse for affected voters. The ECI also clarified that it is not legally required to publish a separate list of excluded voters or reasons for non-inclusion, as demanded by the petitioner, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

ADR’s plea challenges the ECI’s June 24 SIR order, alleging opaque deletions and seeking a booth-wise list of the 65 lakh excluded voters, specifying whether they were deceased, migrated, or omitted for other reasons. The ECI countered that exclusion from the draft roll does not equate to permanent deletion, as errors during the enumeration phase, conducted via house-to-house visits by 77,895 Booth Level Officers, can be rectified during the claims and objections period (August 1–September 1). Political parties received updated lists of non-enumerated voters by July 20 to facilitate corrections, with further lists shared post-publication.

Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav Exposes Bihar DyCM’s Dual Voter IDs, Demands Action

The ECI accused ADR of spreading “false narratives” to malign its credibility, urging the Supreme Court to impose costs for misleading claims. It refuted ADR’s assertion that excluded voters lack remedies, citing provisions for late submissions via Form 6. The case, heard by a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, follows the court’s August 6 directive for details on the exclusions, with hearings scheduled for August 12–13.

The controversy has fueled broader opposition claims, with Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi alleging electoral fraud. Posts on X, including from @SaketGokhale, highlight concerns over 1.26 crore deletions since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, amplifying calls for transparency. The ECI’s assurances aim to restore trust as Bihar prepares for its 2025 Assembly elections, with the final voter roll due on September 30.

Also Read: Evictions or Elections? Assam Govt Accused of Targeting Minorities to Shape Poll Narrative