New Delhi. The Supreme Court has refused to ban the special revision of voters in Bihar. The Supreme Court has said that it will not interfere in the work of constitutional institutions. The next hearing in this case will now be held on 28 July. This decision of the Supreme Court has shocked opposition parties including Congress and RJD. Apart from some MPs of Congress, RJD, AIMIM and TMC, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to prevent special voter revision in Bihar. A bench of Supreme Court Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Jayamalya Bagchi said that the petitioner’s counsel argued that the list of 11 documents is not complete, as indicated in the June order. Therefore, the court believes that the Election Commission will also consider documents like Aadhar Card, Voter ID Card (EPIC) and ration cards issued by Election Commission.
[Breaking down the Supreme Court hearing Bihar electoral roll case in 10 points]
Supreme Court Said Aadhaar, EPIC, and Ration Card Should Be Considered Valid Identity Documents for Voter Verification, Subject to Eci’s discretion.
Court directed that If these documents are… pic.twitter.com/o5U7GGROCV
– bar and bench (@barandbench) July 10, 2025
The court said that the petitioners are not insisting on the interim restriction at this time as the draft of the voter list is to be published on 1 August 2025 under any circumstances. At the same time, the matter is being listed on 28 July 2025 for hearing before that. During the hearing on the case, the Supreme Court also questioned the time of special revision of voters in Bihar. The bench asked the petitioners’ counsel Gopal Shankaranarayan that you tell me what is wrong with the Election Commission? On this, the petitioners’ counsel argued that the provision to update the voter list is in the law. This process can also be prepared in a new way. He questioned the term Special Intensive Revision of the Election Commission. Shankaranarayan said that the Election Commission is saying that this was done in the year 2003, but the number of voters was less at that time. Now Bihar has more than 7 crore voters. The whole work is being done fast.
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said that there are three questions. First, what are the powers of the Election Commission to hold elections. What is the process of using the powers and the third time the deadline which is very small and will end in November and the notification will come before that. Justice Dhulia also said that hearing of the case is necessary. He ordered to file a protest by or before 21 July.
During the hearing, the Election Commission counsel to Justice Dhulia and Justice Bagchi said that Aadhaar card cannot be kept in the verification of the voter, as it is not a proof of citizenship. On this, the bench asked why you are raising the issue of citizenship? This is the area of authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. If you had to check citizenship through revision, then first had to do it. It was late. At the same time, the Election Commission counsel told the Supreme Court that the Commission is a constitutional body. He is directly related to voters. If there are no voters, then the Commission will not exist. The commission’s lawyer said that no one has the intention nor intention to get anyone out of the voter list. Unless the Election Commission is forced to do so through legal provisions.
