The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar has become a focal point of political and legal controversy ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India directed the Election Commission (EC) to be ready to answer detailed questions regarding facts and figures linked to the ongoing revision of the state’s electoral roll.

The issue reached the apex court after the Opposition in Bihar alleged large-scale irregularities, including wrongful deletions and the addition of bogus voters. The petitioners claim the current exercise undermines the credibility of the election process and poses a risk to free and fair polls.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the process of voter verification was deeply flawed. He emphasised that every individual born after 1950 is a citizen of India, yet in some areas, legitimate voters have been marked as dead. He cited a striking example where 12 living people in a single small assembly constituency were listed as deceased, and the Booth Level Officer (BLO) allegedly failed to take corrective action.

Another senior advocate, Gopal S., informed the court that 6.5 million names had been removed from the voter list in Bihar, calling it an instance of mass voter exclusion. The Opposition has interpreted these figures as evidence of a deliberate attempt to influence the election outcome.

Responding to these claims, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Election Commission, defended the process. He explained that the current list was merely a draft roll, and in a statewide revision exercise of this magnitude, minor errors are inevitable. However, he rejected the allegation that living voters were wrongly declared dead, stating that such claims were inaccurate.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi of the Supreme Court observed that if the preparatory procedures preceding the draft roll had not been followed properly, it would constitute a serious procedural lapse. The bench stressed the importance of accuracy in voter rolls, noting that wrongful deletion or incorrect marking of a voter as deceased could deprive citizens of their fundamental right to vote.

The court also highlighted that the names of people wrongly marked as dead must be restored promptly. The hearing, which began with strong exchanges between counsel, will resume at 2 PM, with the EC expected to present more concrete data on the alleged discrepancies.

This controversy comes at a politically sensitive time, as Bihar prepares for its assembly elections. The voter list forms the foundation of the democratic process, and any flaws—real or perceived—could escalate tensions among political stakeholders. The Special Intensive Revision, typically intended to clean and update the electoral roll, has instead sparked allegations of manipulation, potentially impacting voter trust.

The outcome of the case will be closely watched, not only in Bihar but across India, as it touches on broader issues of electoral integrity, transparency, and procedural fairness. The Supreme Court’s intervention ensures that the Election Commission will have to substantiate its process and clarify whether alleged errors are isolated incidents or part of a systemic problem.

If the court finds lapses, it may direct the EC to implement corrective measures before the elections, which could involve re-verification drives, increased Booth Level Officer accountability, and public notification systems to allow voters to check their status in real time.

The ongoing legal scrutiny also serves as a reminder that voter list management remains one of the most sensitive aspects of Indian elections. With millions of voters depending on an accurate and transparent process, even small mistakes can lead to significant political and legal consequences.

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