The Supreme Court to hear today the pleas challenging Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls
Bench: Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi
On Oct 9, the Court passed an interim order to ensure free legal aid for persons excluded from the final voters' list so they can file appeals against their exclusion.
Follow live-updates here.
Bhushan: This should be heard immediately after vacation. Otherwise, Bihar election will become fait accompli without transparency
Gopal S: This is an entirely unconstitutional exercise. We have completed constitutional arguments on this. They are to response, if a date can be fixed...
J Kant: Mr Dwivedi you can argue on legal aspects on Nov 4. I'm in Constitution Bench now.
Dwivedi: In our affidavit, we have brought out how they continue to forge documents. False documents have been filed. If they wish to respond, they may
Bhushan: Last time, they took up one affidavit, said there is no such person, no EPIC number...we have verified, everything was correct except one thing...his name was not in draft roll, it was there in January 2025 draft roll...the drop-down menu is common, so there was a mistake in that regard.
Bhushan: Why should these things not be on ECI website?
J Kant: 17th will be the last date for publishing final list (for first phase)? Let's see what they publish. Suppose final list gives an indication who was added, deleted...there are some typographical mistakes...as Mr Yadav pointed out...we expect them to look into these things as a responsible authority and come out with remedial measures
Bhushan: If they were truly responsible, we would expect
Order (on Grover's IA): Mr Dwivedi submits that though issue has been addressed in comprehensive affidavit filed today, however, he seeks and is granted 10 days time to file reply.
J Kant: We have no doubt that they will fulfill their responsibility...they are bound to publish...we are not closing the matter, Mr Bhushan
Bhushan: After deleting 65 lakhs, they have deleted some more...but have not put out the list
J Kant: It's an ongoing exercise, it is yet to culminate in a list
Bhushan: Rules require real time transparency regarding this. New inclusions also not given
Dwivedi: Voters know everything. He can wait for data analytics and guide ECI in future.
Bhushan: We have said in 8 Oct affidavit that they have no disclosed complete list of new deletions of electors on draft rolls but not on final rolls...what are the new deletions not disclosed...tomorrow and 20th they will freeze final roll, it won't be identical to roll that they will publish...unfortunately, they have not been putting out the final roll on their website. That needs to be done immediately
Dwivedi: It's already on website
Bhushan: That's the 30 Sept list. After that, they said they will make modifications till...roll of names that will go to polls needs to be put out
J Kant: Final list will have to be in every polling station, with every political party
Bhushan: Some voters are saying they did not receive notice, reasons. How to verify it? Only way is to put it on website
Bhushan: I just want to mention about affidavit tendered by me...we have verified and filed affidavit...all details of that voter...
J Kant: That has no impact on merits of the case
Grover: They were to file reply on my IA. We are on data...
Dwivedi: We will file separate reply
Bhushan: So far as Bihar is concerned, now it will be difficult to do enquiry. But their rules, guidelines, manual, 2003 guidelines [must be followed].
Hearing begins
Sr Advs Dr AM Singhvi, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Advs Prashant Bhushan, Vrinda Grover appear for petitioners
Sr Adv Rakesh Dwivedi appears for ECI
J Kant: First, we will hear ECI.