Key Pints
- Transparency push: Supreme Court directs Election Commission to display district-wise list of ~65 lakh deleted voters on Bihar DEO websites, with reasons for deletion death, migration, duplicate entry, etc.
- EPIC-based search: Data to be accessible booth-wise via voters’ EPIC number; list must be in searchable format for easy access.
- Wide publicity mandate: ECI to publish simple-language public notice in newspapers, TV, radio, and official social media by Tuesday.
- Aadhaar included: Court orders ECI to accept Aadhaar as valid ID for inclusion claims along with its existing list of 11 documents.
- Next hearing: Case listed for August 22; part of challenge to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar.
New Delhi: In a significant order aimed at improving voter confidence, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish online a district-wise list of approximately 65 lakh voters whose names were deleted in Bihar following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The list to be booth-wise, searchable via EPIC number, and attached with specific reasons for deletion must be uploaded on each District Election Officer’s (DEO) website and also mirrored on the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Bihar website.
The deletions are attributed to reasons like death, migration, or duplicate registration.
Court’s Emphasis: Give Public Easy Access
A two-judge bench of Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made it clear that voters should not have to approach political parties to know if their names were deleted.
Justice Suryakant observed:
“If Poonam Devi’s name is deleted, she should know that it has been deleted and why.”
The court also pressed for a “common man-friendly” public notice written in simple language, specifying the website link—so that affected voters can easily check and take corrective measures before the final electoral roll is published.
EPIC Number Search & Searchable Format
Following submissions by senior advocates Gopal Shankarnarayanan and Vrinda Grover, the court accepted that the list should be in a searchable format. While the ECI initially opposed this citing the 2018 Kamal Nath case, the bench said there was “no problem” with making it searchable for public convenience.
Aadhaar as Proof for Inclusion
In a move to expand access, the bench directed the ECI to add Aadhaar card to its list of 11 acceptable documents for making a claim. The court noted that Aadhaar, along with EPIC, is easily available to most citizens and should be explicitly mentioned in the public notice so that voters are aware they can use it.
Publicity Directive
The ECI must carry out wide-scale awareness campaigns by next Tuesday through:
- Local newspapers with wide circulation in Bihar
- TV and FM radio spots
- Official social media handles of DEOs
This is to ensure that all affected voters especially in rural and semi-urban areas — know about the online publication and the process to reapply for inclusion.
Interim Steps Ordered by Supreme Court
- List Publication: District-wise and booth-wise list of ~65 lakh deleted voters to be uploaded on DEO websites; accessible through EPIC number with stated reason for deletion.
- Central Portal: Listing also on CEO Bihar’s official website.
- Aadhaar Added: Aadhaar card officially included among valid documents for claims.
- Wide Publicity: Multi-platform awareness drive using print, broadcast, and social media.
- Searchable Format: Names to be published in a format that allows easy search.
Next Steps
The case, part of a challenge to the Bihar SIR process filed by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and others, will be heard again on August 22. The bench indicated that greater transparency now could preempt allegations against the ECI and help protect voter rights.
