THE SUPREME COURT TODAY ordered that persons excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (‘SIR’) can submit applications for inclusion online, without having to file physical forms, and directed 12 recognised political parties in the state to assist voters in the exercise.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said that excluded individuals may apply online either on their own or with the help of booth-level agents (‘BLAs’) of the twelve recognised political parties. The Court formally impleaded all twelve recognised parties, directing them to mobilise their BLAs to facilitate the filing of applications in their respective booths.
Pointing out that Bihar has about 1.6 lakh BLAs belonging to all the political parties, the Bench noted: “If each agent helps fill just 10 forms a day, there would be 16 lakh applications for registration of excluded voters each day.”
It expressed surprise that despite such a vast network, only two objections had been filed so far, and took note of complaints that local officers were not acknowledging objections raised by BLAs of the political parties.
The Court formally impleaded all twelve recognised parties, directing them to mobilise their BLAs to facilitate the filing of applications in their respective booths.
The Court in the last hearing on August 14 had directed that booth-wise lists of the nearly 65 lakh voters deleted from the draft rolls be displayed on panchayat bhavans and block offices, in addition to being uploaded on the websites of District Electoral Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer. Public notices in English and vernacular newspapers must inform voters in “layman-friendly” language that Aadhaar cards as well as any of the 11 notified documents can be submitted for inclusion.
The Bench directed political parties to issue specific instructions to their booth-level workers to assist excluded voters, except those who are dead or have migrated voluntarily, in filing applications before the September 1 cut-off date.
The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s June 24 directive ordering a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar just ahead of assembly elections. Petitioners, including NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms (‘ADR’), Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (‘PUCL’), RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, activist Yogendra Yadav and others, have argued that the directive violates constitutional guarantees and risks disenfranchising large sections of the electorate.
The Election Commission of India (‘ECI’), in an affidavit, informed the Court that the list of omitted voters had been uploaded online and physical copies displayed locally – at Panchayat Bhavans and block and panchayat offices. It added that advertisements had been issued across newspapers, radio and television.