The Supreme Court declined to halt the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, rejecting a plea to stay the draft roll publication set for August 1. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that the court would comprehensively address challenges to the SIR, which aims to purify voter lists before November’s Bihar assembly elections. The court scheduled July 29 to set a final hearing timeline, urging the ECI to accept Aadhaar and voter ID cards, citing their “presumption of genuineness,” while noting ration cards’ susceptibility to forgery.

The SIR, initiated on June 24, has sparked controversy for excluding Aadhaar, voter IDs, and ration cards from its 11-document list for voter verification, raising fears of mass disenfranchisement, particularly among migrants, Dalits, and Muslims. Petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and RJD MP Manoj Jha, argue the process is arbitrary, lacks statutory backing, and violates constitutional rights under Articles 14, 21, 325, and 326. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan highlighted the ECI’s “unprecedented” SIR, noting its compressed 30-day timeline and exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar, possessed by 87% of Bihar’s population.

The ECI defended the SIR, asserting its constitutional mandate under Article 326 to ensure only eligible citizens vote. It claimed 1.5 lakh booth-level agents were deployed, with 92% of Bihar’s 7.24 crore electors participating, though petitioners allege irregularities, including forged signatures by booth-level officers. The ECI clarified that Aadhaar and voter IDs are accepted with supporting documents but not as standalone proof of citizenship, a stance the court questioned, noting citizenship verification falls under the Home Ministry’s purview.

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Justice Kant emphasized “en masse inclusion” over exclusion, urging case-by-case handling of forgeries. The court expressed concern over the SIR’s timing, questioning its link to the upcoming elections and the short window for appeals, which could disenfranchise voters. Jha’s affidavit alleged the process disproportionately targets vulnerable communities, undermining democracy. The court assured petitioners that any illegality found would lead to the exercise being quashed, reinforcing its commitment to protecting voting rights.

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