Bihar SIR: Supreme Court refuses more time for final submission of objections

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that voters not included in the draft electoral roll can submit their applications for inclusion online. The bench made it clear that physical submission of such applications is not necessary.

The top court, however, refused to extend the timeline for submitting objections to the Election Commission of India's special intensive revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The bench said ECI can consider extending the deadline (September 1) in case it receives an "overwhelming response".

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi reiterated that an Aadhaar card or any of the 11 documents mentioned by ECI in its list of admissible documents can be submitted along with the applications seeking inclusion in the draft roll.


The bench also asked political parties to assist the people who have been excluded from the draft electoral roll.

Speaking for the bench, justice Surya Kant verbally remarked "we are surprised at the inaction of political parties". The bench expressed its surprise that Bihar has over 1.60 lakh booth-level agents of political parties, but only two objections have been filed as per ECI. However, the bench also noted the submission of the political parties that BLAs were not being permitted to submit objections.

The bench directed all the 12 recognised political parties to issue specific instructions to BLAs to assist voters in submitting the requisite forms, along with the 11 documents enlisted by ECI or Aadhaar card, to get themselves included in the voter list. The bench impleaded 12 registered political parties in the case.

The apex court also asked BLAs to ensure that the 65 lakh names not included in the draft electoral roll, except those who died or who are not voluntarily in it, are assisted in submitting their objections.

Speaking for the bench, justice Kant orally observed that "the entire exercise has to be voter friendly. We are concerned about voters". The bench made it clear that it is not disposing of the case but keeping it alive.

The bench also recorded its appreciation for ECI's efforts to conduct SIR, noting that the exercise is aimed at "inclusion" of voters.

The counsel for ECI argued that none of the 12 recognised political parties in the state have given any objections and informed that over 2 lakh forms have been filed by new voters for inclusion in the list. He assured that there will be "no exclusion of anyone at all". The bench posted the matter for resumed hearing on September 8.

At the last hearing, the apex court while presiding over a clutch of pleas challenging the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar had verbally observed that "largely it appears to be a case of trust deficiency".