Bihar SIR Row, August 14, 2025 – In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Election Commission (EC) to publish detailed information about 65 lakh voters whose names have been deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The court has emphasized transparency and public accessibility, setting August 22, 2025 as the next hearing date.
Key Takeaways
- 65 lakh names deleted from Bihar’s voter list during the SIR process.
- SC orders online and offline publication of deleted voter details with reasons.
- Next hearing on the matter scheduled for August 22, 2025.
- Assembly elections in Bihar expected in October–November 2025
SC Orders Booth-Wise Public Disclosure
A Bench led by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, ordered that the list of voters deleted from the electoral roll — whose names were present in the 2025 voter list but absent in the Draft Roll released on August 1, 2025 — be published district-wise on the websites of the respective District Election Officers (DEOs).
These lists must be searchable by the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number and must clearly mention the reason for non-inclusion in the draft roll. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar will also upload the district-wise soft copies of these lists on its official website.
Offline Access for Public Awareness
In addition to online publication, the Supreme Court directed that the booth-wise lists be displayed physically at:
- Panchayat Bhavans
- Block Development Officer (BDO) offices
- Panchayat Officer offices
This will allow citizens in rural and urban areas to access the information without relying solely on the internet.
Publicity Through Media and Social Platforms
To ensure maximum awareness, the apex court instructed the EC to publicize the lists through:
- Daily newspapers in vernacular and English
- Radio broadcasts and television channels
- Official social media accounts of the DEOs and CEO, Bihar
The public notices must also clearly state that aggrieved voters can submit claims along with a copy of their Aadhaar card. The EC must collect compliance reports from all Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) and DEOs and submit a status report to the court.
Reason Behind Deletion of 65 Lakh Names
According to the Election Commission’s data:
- 22.34 lakh voters were found to be deceased
- 36.28 lakh voters had permanently shifted or were absent
- 7.01 lakh voters were registered at more than one location
Despite this large-scale deletion, the EC stated that 6.5 crore voters out of 7.9 crore in Bihar did not need to submit fresh documents, as their details matched the 2003 electoral rolls.
Concerns Raised by Petitioners
The petitions, including one filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), warned that this mass deletion could lead to disenfranchisement of genuine voters. They sought judicial intervention to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out ahead of the October–November 2025 Assembly elections.
Court’s Stand on Electoral Roll Revision
Earlier, the Supreme Court clarified that the Election Commission has full authority to exclude non-citizens from the voters’ list. It also stressed that electoral rolls cannot remain static and require periodic revision to maintain accuracy.