EC Tells Supreme Court on Bihar SIR That No Eligible Voter's Name Will Be Removed From the List Without Notice and Hearing. Deadline is September 1, 2025.
Bihar SIR: Regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, the Election Commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The Commission has clarified that no eligible voter's name will be removed from the voter list without notice and a hearing. The first phase of the SIR has been completed, and the draft list was released on August 1, 2025. The deadline for filing claims and objections has been set for September 1, 2025.
Election Commission's Affidavit in Supreme Court
During the hearing on the petition filed regarding the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar, the Election Commission filed a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court. In it, the Commission has clarified that the name of no eligible voter will be removed from the list without prior notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
The Commission stated that three essential steps are mandatory for removing any name—first, issuing a notice to the voter; second, providing an opportunity for a hearing; and third, issuing a reasoned order by a competent authority.
ADR's Allegations and Supreme Court's Stance
The petition in this case was filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The ADR alleged that the names of 6.5 million voters in Bihar were wrongly removed from the voter list, and transparency was not followed in this process. Also, the list of removed voters was not made public.
On August 6, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to file an affidavit clarifying the situation. The court had stated that ensuring transparency and fairness is the responsibility of the Election Commission. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for August 13, 2025.
First Phase of SIR Completed, Draft List Released
The Election Commission stated in its additional affidavit that the first phase of the SIR has been completed. The draft voter list has been published on August 1, 2025. In this phase, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) went door-to-door collecting the names and documents of voters.
Out of a total of 7.89 crore voters, 7.24 crore people confirmed their names and submitted the required documents. Emphasis was also placed on including any names that were missed in this process.
Large-Scale Administrative and Public Participation
In the SIR process, 38 District Election Officers, 243 Electoral Registration Officers, 77,895 BLOs, 2.45 lakh volunteers, and 1.60 lakh booth-level agents across the state were actively involved.
Lists of left-out voters were provided to political parties from time to time so that they could also provide suggestions for improvement at their level. Hindi advertisements were published in 246 newspapers for the registration of migrant workers.
In addition, facilities were provided for filling out forms both online and offline. Special camps were organized in urban bodies. 2.5 lakh volunteers were deployed to provide advance registration for young people and special assistance for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Deadline for Claims-Objections is September 1
According to the Election Commission, claims and objections can be filed from August 1 to September 1, 2025. During this period, any voter who wants to register an objection to correct, add, or remove their name can fill out the relevant form and submit it to the BLO or the Electoral Registration Officer.
All claims will be disposed of within seven working days. If a voter is dissatisfied with the decision, they can appeal to the ERO (Electoral Registration Officer). The final appeal can be made to the state's Chief Electoral Officer.
Emphasis on Transparency and Information Dissemination
The Election Commission stated that press releases are being issued daily on the entire process so that the public can get all updates on time. Various mediums—newspapers, radio, social media, and government notices—are being used to make voters aware. The Commission believes that the purity of the voter list is the foundation of democracy and that no negligence or bias will be tolerated in it.
Process Under Supreme Court's Supervision
This process has become even more sensitive after the ADR's petition and the Supreme Court's intervention. The court has clarified that if the name of any eligible voter has been wrongly removed, it is equivalent to a violation of the right to vote.
Why is the SIR Process Necessary?
The purpose of the Special Intensive Revision is to keep the voter list accurate and up-to-date. Names may be missed from time to time for several reasons—such as change of address, migration, or errors in documents. Similarly, it is also important to remove the names of deceased persons or incorrect entries.
