New Delhi | October 7,2025 | SKY LINK TIMES
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear final arguments on Tuesday in a batch of petitions challenging the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls — a key process completed just weeks before the 2025 Assembly elections.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will take up the case, which questions the transparency and procedural integrity of the voter list revision exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
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ECI Defends Process After Completing Voter Roll Revision
The ECI had earlier requested the court to defer the matter until the final publication of the revised electoral rolls, which took place on October 1, 2025. According to official data, Bihar now has 7.43 crore registered voters, including 14 lakh first-time electors.
The Commission maintained that the SIR was essential to remove duplicates and update records, ensuring that the 2025 Assembly elections reflect an accurate and inclusive voter base.
ADR Raises Transparency and Legality Concerns
The petitions were filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and other groups, represented by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan. They alleged that the SIR process was riddled with irregularities, potential voter rights violations, and lack of transparency in verification procedures.
ADR urged the court to examine the legality of the exercise before the publication of the final voter list, arguing that the process could have led to disenfranchisement of eligible citizens. However, the bench clarified that judicial review remains open even after publication, and that the Court would “intervene if any illegality is found.”
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Aadhaar Verification Under Scrutiny
In earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court directed the ECI to accept Aadhaar as a valid document for verification during the revision process but reiterated that Aadhaar cannot serve as proof of citizenship.
Justice Kant emphasized that the ECI must carefully vet all documents to prevent wrongful inclusion or exclusion from the rolls. The bench also refused to pass any interim orders, stating, “We will examine the entire exercise in totality.”
Bihar Polls in Two Phases Next Month
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases — November 6 and 11, with vote counting on November 14.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described the Bihar polls as the “mother of all elections”, emphasizing extensive security and logistical preparations. “We assure voters of free, fair, and peaceful elections, with a special focus on law and order,” he said, joined by fellow commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
This election will be the first major electoral test following the SIR-driven voter list purification, making the Supreme Court’s verdict potentially significant for India’s broader electoral framework.
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