The Supreme Court today ordered election officials to clearly show why names are being removed from voter lists in Bihar. This urgent demand comes after many people reported their names were suddenly gone, raising fears they cannot vote in upcoming elections. The top court wants all removals to be fair and open, making sure no one loses their right to vote wrongly. This ruling makes it clear that honest elections depend on a trustworthy voter list and puts pressure on authorities to fix any problems right away.
Court Orders More Openness for Voter Lists
The Supreme Court has told the Election Commission of India (ECI) to be very open about why more than 65 lakh (6. 5 million) voter names were removed from the draft voter list in Bihar. This order came during a hearing about a special review of voter lists happening in the state. The Court wants the public to easily find out if their name was removed and why.
Why the Court Stepped In
The Supreme Court gave this interim order while hearing several petitions. These petitions questioned the ECI’s decision to carry out a “Special Intensive Revision (SIR)” of voter lists in Bihar. This process is happening before the upcoming elections in the state. Many people and groups raised concerns that a large number of eligible voters might lose their right to vote because of this review. The draft voter list was put out on August 1. the final list is expected by September 30. Initially, the ECI had argued that it was not legally required to put out a separate list of names that were removed or to give reasons for their removal. They said they shared this data with political parties. But, the Supreme Court disagreed with this. The judges said that it is a basic right for every citizen to know why their name was taken off the voter list. Justice Surya Kant, one of the judges, made this clear by saying, “If Poonam Devi has been omitted, Poonam Devi must be able to know that she has been deleted and why she has been deleted.” The Court stressed that a fair process is needed because taking away someone’s name can stop them from voting.
What the Election Body Must Do
The Supreme Court has given clear instructions to the Election Commission of India:
- The ECI must create a public list of the 65 lakh voter names that were removed from the draft rolls.
- This list must clearly state the reason for each name being removed. Common reasons include a voter having passed away, moving permanently to another place, or having their name listed more than once.
- The list needs to be searchable online using the voter’s EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number. This will make it easier for people to check their status.
- The list should be available on the websites of the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and all District Electoral Officers.
In addition to online access, the Court also ordered that printed lists of removed voters be put up in public places. These physical lists, which include the reasons for removal, must be displayed at:
- Panchayat offices
- Block Development offices
- Panchayat Bhawans
This ensures that people who do not have internet access can also check the lists.
Making the data Widely Known
The Court also ordered the ECI to ensure that this crucial data reaches everyone. They must give wide publicity to the availability of these lists through:
- Local newspapers, especially those in the local language
- Doordarshan (national television)
- Other television and radio channels
- Official social media accounts of district election officers
The insights shared through these channels must be in simple, easy-to-comprehend language.
What if a Name Was Wrongly Removed?
The Supreme Court has made it clear that if a person’s name was wrongly removed from the voter list, they can file a claim to have it put back. The Court also said that Aadhaar cards can be used as valid proof of identity and address for this purpose. The ECI itself stated that Form 6, which is used for adding names to the voter list, already allows for Aadhaar details.
Scale of Deletions and Concerns
The Election Commission of India informed the Court that out of the roughly 65 lakh names not included in the draft rolls, about 22 lakh names were of voters who had passed away. The large number of deletions has raised serious questions. In Bihar, many Assembly seats are won by very small margins. Some analyses suggest that the number of removed or shifted voters in many areas is larger than the winning difference in past elections. For example, in the 2020 elections, 165 out of 243 seats were decided by a difference smaller than the average number of voters now removed per seat. This means that such large-scale changes to the voter list could affect the results in many areas. There have also been specific concerns about who was removed. Data analysis showed that in 37 out of 38 districts, more women than men were removed from the voter lists. This is a point of concern, especially since data on migration often shows more men moving out of the state for work. These findings lead to questions about how accurate the voter counting was and whether women were unfairly affected. The ECI, on its part, stressed that no name is permanently deleted without a chance for people to correct it. They stated that if someone is alive but their name was removed due to a reported death, they can approach election officials to get it fixed.
The Way Forward
The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India to provide a report on how they are following these orders by August 19. The case will be heard again on August 22. This ongoing monitoring by the Court shows the importance it places on making sure that the voter list process is fair and clear for everyone. 
