The Election Commission (EC) has initiated a process of sending notices to approximately 3 lakh electors in Bihar due to discrepancies found in their submitted documents during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This action is part of a larger effort to revise the electoral rolls in Bihar, ensuring the inclusion of eligible citizens and the removal of ineligible names.
As part of the SIR, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been scrutinizing documents submitted by electors and have identified inconsistencies in the documents of around 3 lakh individuals. These electors are now being issued notices, requiring them to appear before the EROs within seven days. The number of such notices is expected to rise as EROs continue to examine documents from Assembly constituencies.
The EC's initiative stems from an order issued on June 24, which mandated all 7.89 crore registered electors in Bihar to fill enumeration forms by July 25 to be included in the draft roll. By the deadline, the EC received 7.24 crore forms, leading to the deletion of 65 lakh names in the draft stage due to reasons such as death, migration, multiple enrollments, or untraceability. The EC also required those registered after 2003 to submit documents proving their date and place of birth, as well as those of their parents if born after July 1, 1987, to establish citizenship.
The notices issued by EROs do not cite any specific rule or legal provision but state that they are for "verification of entries in the draft roll". They inform the elector that their name was included in the draft roll based on the enumeration form and declaration. An official clarified that no names would be deleted without a hearing and a formal order from the concerned ERO. Information suggesting "doubtful citizenship" was gathered by Booth Level Officers during enumeration and from "enforcement agencies".
The Election Commission has assured the Supreme Court that no voter's name in Bihar will be removed from the draft roll without prior notice, a hearing, and a formal order. The commission shared lists of missing forms with political parties early on. The EC stated that it adheres to the principles of natural justice, ensuring that every elector has the opportunity to be heard and present relevant documents before any deletion. A two-tier appeal mechanism is in place to address any adverse actions.
The poll body has clarified that EROs can obtain documents from electors whose names appear in the draft rolls even during the claims-and-objections phase, which runs from August 1 to September 1. The final roll is scheduled to be published on September 30. The EC has emphasized that any individual omitted from the draft roll has a statutory right to inclusion. The reasons for non-inclusion, such as death, permanent migration, or being untraceable, do not alter the available remedies.
Earlier this month, the Election Commission issued a notice to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha for allegedly possessing two voter ID cards and being registered as an elector in two places. He was asked to explain why he had two voter IDs.
