Challenge To Bihar Electoral Roll Revision : Live Updates From Supreme Court

Dwivedi: through mobile phones we have informed. We are also going door to door.

J Dhulia: there is a matter of perception also.

Dwivedi: please don't stop us now. let us complete this.

J Dhulia: We are not stopping you.

Dwivedi: even to say include this document that document... The election commission is not sleeping.

Dwivedi: in 2003 there were only three documents. Now we have 11 documents.

J Bagchi: this timelines... why just 30 days? The census will take a year.

Dwivedi: census for the entire country will take a year.

Dwivedi: Birth register.

J Bagchi: that is one. But the others are this person reside here etc. including Aadhar does not interfere with the policy that you are describing here.

Dwivedi: we would include Aadhar but for the law.

Bench: even these other documents by themselves don't prove citizenship

Dwivedi: if we are any intention of ignoring that less that would be a serious case. But all we are asking is those whose father's name and mother's name are not already on the list you please provide one of these 11 documents that show this citizenship.

J Bagchi: Why citizenship? only identity. None of these illustrative documents that you listed or by themselves proof of citizenship.

Dwivedi: beyond 2003 everyone has to be approached and the form based on the electoral roll is being filled by us and the signatures have to be taken. So the last electoral roll prepared in January 2025 is not being ignored.

Dwivedi: the political parties have been authorised to go door to door with the prefilled forms and get signatures. We will get the forms and then all of that will be put in the ECI net. So 3.1 crores have to do nothing except fill the form.

Bench: all the documents you have listed are related to identity. The entire exercise is about identity.

Dwivedi: we are looking from all aspects. Citizenship, age, etc.

Dwivedi: some petitions say that some 1.1 crore persons have died and 70 lacs have migrated. That itself makes a case for intensive revision

J Bagchi: we would be loathe to interfere with an exercise by an constitutional body like Election Commission of India.

Dwivedi: only purpose is to ensure that everyone was eligible is on the roll

J Bagchi: once someone raises on objection there is a provision for oral hearing. Our question is with such a vast population is it possible to link such an exercise with an election?

Dwivedi: It can be stopped if necessary. Election is in November. Stop me later.