Plea in Supreme Court Moved Against ECI’s Electoral Roll Order in Bihar

Plea in Supreme Court Moved Against ECI’s Electoral Roll Order in Bihar

Last Updated Jul - 05 - 2025, 06:18 PM | Source : Fela News

ADR files plea in Supreme Court challenging ECI's electoral roll revision order in Bihar, warning it may disenfranchise millions. The petition cites constitutio

A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) recent directive ordering a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. The petition, filed through Advocate Prashant Bhushan, raises serious constitutional and humanitarian concerns about the process, alleging that it could lead to the disenfranchisement of millions of genuine voters.

Passed on June 25, the ECI’s order mandates that voters not listed in the 2003 electoral rolls must furnish specific documents to prove their citizenship. However, the petition argues that the directive is arbitrary and disproportionate, especially for a state like Bihar, where poverty, migration, and lack of access to official documents are widespread. By requiring not only proof of the voter’s own citizenship but also that of their parents, the order imposes a burden that many cannot reasonably meet.

ADR contends that this violates fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution and is a blatant disregard of free and fair elections, a cornerstone of India’s democratic structure. 

The exclusion of commonly used identification documents such as Aadhaar and ration cards further exacerbates the issue, particularly affecting marginalised communities, daily wage workers, and the rural poor.

The petition emphasizes the impracticality of the proposed timeline, pointing out that with state elections approaching in November, lakhs of voters could face exclusion. Initial reports indicate that entire communities in rural Bihar are being required to provide documentation that many do not have. With an estimated three crore voters potentially impacted, the petition appeals to the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent what it deems a significant and unjust denial of voting rights.

Share :