SC Seeks EC Response on 65 Lakh Deleted Voters in Bihar Draft Rolls

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday directed the Election Commission (EC) to provide detailed information regarding the reported deletion of over 65 lakh voters from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar.

The apex court was hearing a petition raising concerns about mass deletion of names from the electoral register ahead of upcoming elections. The petition alleged that such large-scale removals could impact the democratic rights of a significant section of voters in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud asked the EC to clarify the criteria and procedures followed for removing these names, and whether adequate verification and public notice were carried out before finalising the draft rolls.

The court has sought a response by next week, emphasizing the need for transparency in the voter verification process. It also directed the poll panel to explain how errors or wrongful deletions, if any, would be addressed in time before the final list is published.

The EC, in its initial submission, maintained that the deletions were part of a routine cleanup of the electoral database to remove duplicate, deceased, or shifted voters, but assured the court it would submit all relevant data for review.

Political parties in Bihar have raised concerns over the development, demanding clarity and fair opportunity for citizens to re-register or appeal any wrongful exclusions.

The matter is expected to come up for further hearing in the coming days.