In a swift compliance move, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has uploaded the names of nearly 65 lakh voters deleted from the electoral rolls in Bihar under the State Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The action comes within 56 hours of a directive issued by the Supreme Court, reflecting a rare show of bureaucratic urgency in the wake of judicial scrutiny.
The list, now publicly available, details voters who were removed from the rolls during the special revision drive a standard procedure conducted by electoral authorities to maintain accuracy and eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries. However, the scale of deletions constituting a significant chunk of Bihar’s electorate sparked controversy, legal petitions, and accusations of disenfranchisement.
Earlier this week, the apex court had expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the mass deletions and ordered the ECI to disclose the names of those removed, citing the public’s right to know and the need for accountability in electoral processes.
According to sources within the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bihar, the deletions were part of a rationalisation process aimed at cleaning up the voter database ahead of upcoming elections. However, opposition parties and civil rights groups had raised red flags, alleging that the exercise was carried out without adequate verification or communication with the affected voters.
The EC, in response, stated that the entire process followed due diligence and was in line with the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960, which mandate the periodic purification of the electoral roll. Officials further claimed that the deletions involved categories such as deceased voters, duplicate entries, change of residence, and non-traceable electors.
The uploaded data is now accessible on the CEO Bihar’s official website, enabling individuals to cross-check their voter status. Voters who find their names missing have the right to file claims and objections under the ongoing revision window, as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
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