New Delhi: The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, citing potential disenfranchisement of nearly 3 crore voters, mostly from marginalized communities, ahead of the November 2025 assembly elections.
Filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, the PIL argues that the ECI’s June 24 directive shifts the burden of proof onto voters by requiring them to prove not just their own citizenship, but also that of their parents, using a limited set of 11 documents — excluding Aadhaar and ration cards, often the only identity proof available to the poor.
🔎 Why It Matters:
- 🔥 87% of 7.9 crore electors have been covered so far in the SIR.
- 🗳️ First such revision in Bihar since 2003.
- ⛔ Could lead to mass voter exclusion, especially among SCs, STs, migrant laborers, and poor rural populations.
- ⚖️ ADR says this violates Articles 14 (equality), 19 (freedom), and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution, and Article 326 (right to vote).
- 📄 Voters not on 2003 roll must now submit proof of birthplace and parentage — a difficult task for many without birth records.
🗣️ What ADR Argues:
“The SIR order if not set aside, can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise lakhs of voters… and disrupt free and fair elections,” says ADR’s petition.
“There is no urgency or rationale for this revision in a poll-bound state like Bihar,” it added, pointing out that a Special Summary Revision (SSR) had already been conducted just months earlier (Oct 2024–Jan 2025).
📋 Opposition’s Response & Concerns:
- Opposition parties in Bihar have echoed ADR’s concerns, accusing the ECI of implementing politically motivated voter suppression.
- Critics argue the timing of the SIR, so close to elections, raises questions about electoral neutrality.
📊 What the ECI Says:
In a statement, the ECI said that:
- Over 6.86 crore enumeration forms (87% of total electors) have been distributed.
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have already visited 1.5 crore households as of July 4.
- The SIR will be a nationwide exercise, not limited to Bihar.
The ECI maintains that the revision aims to ensure cleaner, more accurate electoral rolls, and insists no eligible voter will be denied registration if proper documentation is provided.
📌 What’s Next:
- The Supreme Court is expected to hear the petition in the coming days.
- The outcome could set a precedent for how voter roll revisions are carried out, especially in states with high migration and poverty.
🧭 Background:
This is the first special intensive revision in Bihar since 2003, and comes just months ahead of critical assembly polls. The revision asks voters whose names do not appear in the 2003 voter list to provide documentary proof of citizenship and parentage.
With migration, poverty, and illiteracy still rampant in many parts of the state, the move has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and political parties alike, calling it a form of “voter cleansing.”
📢 Bottom Line:
The battle over electoral inclusivity vs. voter list integrity is now before the Supreme Court, and its verdict could impact millions of voters in Bihar and beyond.