The Election Commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that the names and details of 65 lakh voters in Bihar, which were not included in the draft list on August 1, have been posted on the websites of all 38 district election officers of the state.
The ECI informed the Supreme Court that they also include the reason for not being included in the list, including death, transfer of general residence or duplicate entries.
The ECI said that the physical copies of the list have been displayed in panchayat buildings, block development offices and panchayat offices in villages of Bihar so that people can easily reach and inquire them.
The Election Commission said that advertisements have been released on major newspapers, radio and television about the online availability of lists and also posted on social media.
The Election Commission of India has filed this affidavit in compliance with the Supreme Court’s 14 August instructions, directing the Election Commission to publish about 65 lakh voters, a booth -wise list should be published during the special intensive revision (SIR) campaign in the Election State Bihar, not included in the draft voter list.
The Election Commission of India also stated to the Supreme Court that its public notice clearly mentions that due to non -inclusion of names in the draft of Bihar voter list, upset voters can present copies of Aadhaar card along with their claims.
The apex court was told that around 65 lakh names were removed from the draft list, while their names were included in the voter list prepared after a summary amendment in January 2025.
The bench of Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will resume the hearing on petitions challenging the Election Commission’s move of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar.
Petitions challenging the Election Commission’s decision were filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PUCL, activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra and former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam.
The petitions have demanded a directive to cancel the Election Commission of India to cancel the instructions of June 24, under which a large section of voters in Bihar will have to submit evidence of citizenship to remain in the voter list.
The petitions also expressed concern over the widely prevalent documents like Aadhaar and Ration Card being excluded from the list, stating that this will adversely affect the poor and marginalized voters, especially in rural Bihar.
